Orders for Manufactured Goods Declined 0.4% in December

Washington, DC, February 3, 2022-New orders for manufactured goods in December, down following seven consecutive monthly increases, decreased $2.4 billion or 0.4% to $530.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 1.8% November increase. Shipments, up nineteen of the last twenty months, increased $2.1 billion or 0.4% to $528.9 billion. This followed a 0.7% November increase. Unfilled orders, up eleven consecutive months, increased $6.2 billion or 0.5% to $1,267.7 billion. This followed a 0.8% November increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.81, up from 6.79 in November. Inventories, up eighteen of the last nineteen months, increased $2.2 billion or 0.3% to $773.0 billion. This followed a 0.8% November increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.46, unchanged from November.