Orders for Manufactured Goods Down 0.7% in November

Washington, DC, January 7, 2020-New orders for manufactured goods in November, down three of the last four months, decreased $3.6 billion or 0.7% to $493.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 0.2% October increase. Shipments, up two consecutive months, increased $1.7 billion or 0.3% to $502.2 billion. This followed a 0.1% October increase.

Unfilled orders, down two of the last three months, decreased $4.9 billion or 0.4% to $1,158.7 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged October increase.

The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.67, down from 6.68 in October.

Inventories, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $2.0 billion or 0.3% to $701.0 billion. This followed a 0.2% October increase. The inventories‐to‐shipments ratio was 1.40, unchanged from October.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in November, down two of the last three months, decreased $5.2 billion or 2.1% to $242.2 billion, down from the previously published 2.0% decrease.

This followed a 0.2% October increase. Transportation equipment, down three consecutive months, led the decrease, $5.0 billion or 5.9% to $79.0 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $1.6 billion or 0.6% to $250.8 billion.