Manufactured Goods Orders Rose 1.2% in August

Washington, DC, October 5, 2017-New orders for manufactured goods in August, up two of the last three months, increased $5.4 billion or 1.2% to $471.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 3.3% July decrease.

Shipments, up eight of the last nine months, increased $2.2 billion or 0.5% to $475.9 billion. This followed a 0.2% July increase.

Unfilled orders, up two of the last three months, increased $0.2 billion or virtually unchanged to $1,132.6 billion. This followed a 0.3% July decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.77, unchanged from July. Inventories, up nine of the last ten months, increased $2.9 billion or 0.4% to $655.6 billion. This followed a 0.4% July increase.

The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.38, unchanged from July.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up two of the last three months, increased $4.5 billion or 2.0% to $233.5 billion, up from the previously published 1.7% increase. This followed a 6.8% July decrease.

Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, led the increase, $3.7 billion or 5.1% to $77.5 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $0.9 billion or 0.4% to $238.2 billion.