New Orders for Manufacturered Goods Fell 0.7% in May

Washington, DC, July 3, 2019--New orders for manufactured goods in May, down three of the last four months, decreased $3.6 billion or 0.7% to $493.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 1.2% April decrease.

Shipments, up three of the last four months, increased $0.4 billion or 0.1% to $504.3 billion. This followed a 0.6% April decrease.

Unfilled orders, down three of the last four months, decreased $6.3 billion or 0.5% to $1,171.1 billion. This followed a 0.2% April decrease.

The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.64, down from 6.69 in April. Inventories, up eight of the last nine months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.2% to $694.1 billion. This followed a 0.2% April increase. The inventories‐to‐shipments ratio was 1.38, up from 1.37 in April.