Orders for Durable Goods Rose 0.2% in August

Washington, DC, September 27, 2023-New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up five of the last six months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.2% to $284.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This followed a 5.6% July decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.7%. Machinery, up four of the last five months, led the increase, $0.2 billion or 0.5% to $37.8 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, up three of the last four months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.5% to $284.6 billion. This followed a 0.1% July decrease. Transportation equipment, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $0.8 billion or 0.9% to $92.5 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up eight of the last nine months, increased $5.0 billion or 0.4% to $1,335.9 billion. This followed a 0.5% July increase.

Transportation equipment, also up eight of the last nine months, drove the increase, $5.3 billion or 0.6% to $838.7 billion.