Durable Goods Orders Rose 3.2% in March

Washington, DC, April 26, 2023-New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $8.6 billion or 3.2% to $276.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This followed a 1.2% February decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.3 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.5%. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $8.1 billion or 9.1% to $97.4 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2.9 billion or 1.1% to $277.0 billion. This followed a 0.8% February decrease. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, drove the increase, $3.3 billion or 3.7% to $93.3 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up thirty of the last thirty-one months, increased $4.6 billion or 0.4% to $1,160.2 billion. This followed a 0.1% February decrease. Transportation equipment, up twenty-two of the last twenty-three months, led the increase, $4.1 billion or 0.6% to $688.0 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, down two of the last three months, decreased $4.4 billion or 0.9% to $488.8 billion. This followed a 0.1% February increase. Transportation equipment, also down two of the last three months, drove the decrease, $4.4 billion or 2.8% to $154.1 billion.