Orders for Manufactured Goods Inched Down in January

Washington, DC, February 27, 2020-New orders for manufactured durable goods in January decreased $0.4 billion or 0.2% to $246.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

This decrease, down two of the last three months, followed a 2.9% December increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.9%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.6%. Transportation equipment, down four of the last five months, drove the decrease, $1.8 billion or 2.2% to $82.0 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in January, down seven consecutive months, decreased $0.5 billion or 0.2% to $250.1 billion. This followed a 0.1% December decrease. Transportation equipment, also down seven consecutive months, drove the decrease, $1.3 billion or 1.6% to $82.1 billion.