Durable Goods Orders Rose 0.7% in April

Washington, DC, May 24, 2024-New orders for manufactured durable goods in April, up three consecutive months, increased $1.9 billion or 0.7% to $284.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This followed a 0.8% March increase.

Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4%. Excluding defense, new orders were virtually unchanged. Transportation equipment, also up three consecutive months, led the increase, $1.1 billion or 1.2% to $96.2 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, up three consecutive months, increased $3.4 billion or 1.2% to $285.7 billion. This followed a 0.1% March increase. Transportation equipment, also up three consecutive months, led the increase, $3.1 billion or 3.4% to $93.0 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in April, up forty-five consecutive months, increased $3.1 billion or 0.2% to $1,401.0 billion. This followed a 0.3% March increase. Transportation equipment, up forty-two of the last forty-three months, drove the increase, $3.2 billion or 0.4% to $906.7 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, up four of the last five months, increased $0.6 billion or 0.1% to $528.5 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged March decrease. Transportation equipment, up ten of the last eleven months, drove the increase, $0.6 billion or 0.4% to $170.9 billion.