Manufactured Goods Orders Fell 0.8% in July

Washinton, DC, September 6, 2018-New orders for manufactured goods in July, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $3.9 billion or 0.8% to $497.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 0.6% June increase.

Shipments, up fourteen of the last fifteen months, increased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $501.7 billion. This followed a 1.0% June increase.

Unfilled orders, up eight of the last nine months, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $1,164.9 billion. This followed a 0.4% June increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.73, up from 6.64 in June.

Inventories, up twenty-one consecutive months, increased $5.6 billion or 0.8% to $675.8 billion. This followed a 0.2% June increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.35, up from 1.34 in June.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in July, down three of the last four months, decreased $4.3 billion or 1.7% to $247.2 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 0.9% June increase. Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, $4.6 billion or 5.2% to $83.0 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $0.5 billion or 0.2% to $250.6 billion.