Orders for Manufactured Goods Rose 1.1% in December

Washington, DC, February 4, 2021-New orders for manufactured goods in December, up eight consecutive months, increased $5.2 billion or 1.1% to $493.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 1.3% November increase.

Shipments, also up eight consecutive months, increased $8.4 billion or 1.7% to $501.8 billion. This followed a 0.8% November increase.

Unfilled orders, down nine of the last ten months, decreased $3.0 billion or 0.3% to $1,070.8 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged November decrease.

The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.28, down from 6.40 in November.

Inventories, up four of the last five months, increased $2.1 billion or 0.3% to $695.7 billion. This followed a 0.8% November increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.39, down from 1.41 in November.