Orders for Manufactured Goods Rose 0.9% in March

Washington, DC, May 2, 2023--New orders for manufactured goods in March, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $4.9 billion or 0.9% to $539.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 1.1% February decrease. Shipments, down four of the last five months, decreased $0.6 billion or 0.1% to $539.9 billion. This followed a 0.9% February decrease.

Unfilled orders, up thirty of the last thirty-one months, increased $4.2 billion or 0.4% to $1,159.7 billion. This followed a 0.1% February decrease.

The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.04, down from 6.11 in February.

Inventories, down three consecutive months, decreased $6.2 billion or 0.8% to $799.4 billion. This followed a 0.2% February decrease. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.48, down from 1.49 in February.