Manufactured Goods Orders Rose 1.0% in November

Washington, DC, January 6, 2021-New orders for manufactured goods in November, up seven consecutive months, increased $5.0 billion or 1.0% to $487.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 1.3% October increase. Shipments, also up seven consecutive months, increased $3.4 billion or 0.7% to $492.9 billion. This followed a 1.2% October increase. Unfilled orders, down eight of the last nine months, decreased $0.6 billion or 0.1% to $1,073.2 billion. This followed a 0.2% October decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.40, up from 6.38 in October. Inventories, up three of the last four months, increased $5.1 billion or 0.7% to $692.9 billion. This followed a 0.3% October increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.41, unchanged from October.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in November, up seven consecutive months, increased $2.3 billion or 1.0% to $244.4 billion, up from the previously published 0.9% increase. This followed a 1.8% October increase. Transportation equipment, up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $1.6 billion or 2.1% to $79.0 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $2.7 billion or 1.1% to $242.8 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in November, up six of the last seven months, increased $0.8 billion or 0.3% to $250.1 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 1.5% October increase. Miscellaneous products, up nine of the last ten months, led the increase, $0.4 billion or 2.5% to $15.5 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up seven consecutive months, increased $2.7 billion or 1.1% to $242.8 billion. This followed a 0.8% October increase. Petroleum and coal products, up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $1.8 billion or 4.4% to $41.6 billion.