Durable Goods Orders Rose 1.7% in August

Washington, DC, September 27, 2017-New orders for manufactured durable goods in August increased $3.9 billion or 1.7% to $232.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

This increase, up two of the last three months, followed a 6.8% July decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.2%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.2%. Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, led the increase, $3.6 billion or 4.9% to $77.4 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, up three of the last four months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.3% to $237.2 billion. This followed a 0.1% July increase. Machinery, up nine of the last ten months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 1.1% to $31.4 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up two of the last three months, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $1,132.3 billion. This followed a 0.3% July decrease. Fabricated metal products, up seven of the last eight months, drove the increase, $0.5 billion or 0.6% to $79.3 billion.