Manufactured Goods Orders Inched Down 0.8% in April

Washington, DC, June 4, 2018-New orders for manufactured goods in April, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $4.0 billion or 0.8% to $494.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 1.7% March increase. Shipments, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $492.8 billion. This followed a 0.7% March increase. Unfilled orders, up five of the last six months, increased $5.4 billion or 0.5% to $1,153.1 billion. This followed a 0.8% March increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.73, up from 6.66 in March. Inventories, up eighteen consecutive months, increased $2.2 billion or 0.3% to $666.9 billion. This followed a 0.2% March increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from March.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in April, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $4.1 billion or 1.6% to $248.6 billion, up from the previously published 1.7% decrease. This followed a 2.7% March increase. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $5.5 billion or 6.0% to $87.2 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $0.1 billion or 0.1% to $245.8 billion.