Orders for Durable Goods Rose Nearly 5.0% in October

Washington, DC, November 23, 2016—New orders for manufactured durable goods in October increased $11.0 billion or 4.8% to $239.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau has announced.

This increase, up four consecutive months, followed a 0.4% September increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.0%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 5.2%.

Transportation equipment, also up four consecutive months, led the increase, $9.5 billion or 12.0% to $88.2 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in October, up four of the last five months, increased $0.2 billion or 0.1% to $234.6 billion. This followed a 0.8% September increase.

Fabricated metal products, up three of the last four months, drove the increase, $0.3 billion or 1.1% to $30.5 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in October, up following four consecutive monthly decreases, increased $8.2 billion or 0.7% to $1,128.6 billion. This followed a 0.2% September decrease.

Transportation equipment, also up following four consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $7.5 billion or 1.0% to $773.1 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in October, up four consecutive months, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $383.7 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged September increase.

Transportation equipment, up three of the last four months, drove the increase, $0.2 billion or 0.2% to $123.8 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in October increased $10.2 billion or 14.5% to $80.1 billion. Shipments decreased $0.4 billion or 0.6% to $71.5 billion. Unfilled orders increased $8.7 billion or 1.3% to $703.1 billion. Inventories decreased $0.6 billion or 0.4% to $169.6 billion.

Defense new orders for capital goods in October decreased $0.4 billion or 3.7% to $10.8 billion. Shipments increased $0.3 billion or 2.9% to $10.6 billion. Unfilled orders increased $0.2 billion or 0.1% to $138.7 billion. Inventories increased $0.4 billion or 1.9% to $21.2 billion.