Orders for Manufactured Goods Rose 0.5% in March

Washington, DC, April 26, 2021-New orders for manufactured durable goods in March increased $1.4 billion or 0.5% to $256.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up ten of the last eleven months, followed a 0.9% February decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.6%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 0.5%. Fabricated metal products, up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $1.2 billion or 3.6% to $35.4 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, up six of the last seven months, increased $6.4 billion or 2.5% to $257.0 billion. This followed a 3.6% February decrease. Transportation equipment, also up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $3.7 billion or 4.8% to $82.1 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up three consecutive months, increased $4.4 billion or 0.4% to $1,087.7 billion. This followed a 0.9% February increase. Fabricated metal products, up eleven consecutive months, led the increase, $2.3 billion or 2.8% to $83.0 billion.