Durable Goods Orders Rose 1.3% in October

Washington, DC, November 25, 2020-New orders for manufactured durable goods in October increased $3.0 billion or 1.3% to $240.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up six consecutive months, followed a 2.1% September increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.3%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 0.2%. Transportation equipment, up five of the last six months, led the increase, $0.9 billion or 1.2% to $77.1 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in October, up five of the last six months, increased $3.1 billion or 1.3% to $248.7 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent September increase. Fabricated metal products, also up five of the last six months, led the increase, $0.7 billion or 2.4% to $30.9 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in October, down seven of the last eight months, decreased $2.8 billion or 0.3% to $1,073.2 billion. This followed a 0.2% September decrease. Transportation equipment, down eight consecutive months, drove the decrease, $4.6 billion or 0.6% to $717.0 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in October, up two consecutive months, increased $1.3 billion or 0.3% to $422.8 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent September increase. Transportation equipment, up twenty-five of the last twenty-six months, led the increase, $0.6 billion or 0.4% to $148.2 billion.