Orders for Manufactured Goods Declined 0.7% in December

Washington, DC, February 23, 2026--New orders for manufactured goods in December, down two of the last three months, decreased $4.3 billion or 0.7% to $617.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 2.7% November increase. 

Shipments, up two of the last three months, increased $3.1 billion or 0.5% to $609.2 billion. This followed a 0.2% November decrease. 

Unfilled orders, up seventeen of the last eighteen months, increased $13.4 billion or 0.9% to $1,527.5 billion. This followed a 1.4% November increase. 

The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 7.01, down from 7.04 in November. Inventories, up three consecutive months, increased $1.0 billion or 0.1% to $949.6 billion. This followed a 0.2% November increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.56, down from 1.57 in November.