Orders for Manufactured Goods Rose 1.2% in February

Washington, DC, April 4, 2018-New orders for manufactured goods in February, up six of the last seven months, increased $6.0 billion or 1.2% to $498.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 1.3% January decrease.

Shipments, up fourteen of the last fifteen months, increased $1.0 billion or 0.2% to $500.5 billion.

This followed a 0.7% January increase.

Unfilled orders, up five of the last six months, increased $1.9 billion or 0.2% to $1,142.8 billion. This followed a 0.3% January decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.49, down from 6.52 in January. Inventories, up fifteen of the last sixteen months, increased $2.3 billion or 0.3% to $675.2 billion. This followed a 0.4% January increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from January.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up three of the last four months, increased $7.2 billion or 3.0% to $247.3 billion, down from the previously published 3.1% increase. This followed a 3.6% January decrease. Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four months, led the increase, $5.5 billion or 7.0% to $83.5 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased $1.2 billion or 0.5% to $250.7 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, up nine of the last ten months, increased $2.2 billion or 0.9% to $249.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.5% January increase. Machinery, up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $0.6 billion or 1.7% to $33.3 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down following eight consecutive monthly increases, decreased $1.2 billion or 0.5% to $250.7 billion. This followed a 1.0% January increase. Petroleum and coal products, down following seven consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $2.0 billion or 3.7% to $50.5 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up five of the last six months, increased $1.9 billion or 0.2% to $1,142.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.3 5January decrease. Transportation equipment, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $1.4 billion or 0.2% to $773.3 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up nineteen of the last twenty months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.4% to $410.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.4% January increase. Transportation equipment, up three consecutive months, led the increase, $0.7 billion or 0.5% to $132.7 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up nine consecutive months, increased $0.4 billion or 0.2% to $264.4 billion. This followed a 0.4% January increase. Petroleum and coal products, up eight consecutive months, led the increase, $0.2 billion or 0.5% to $42.8 billion. By stage of fabrication, February materials and supplies increased 0.6% in both durable goods and nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.4% in durable goods and decreased 0.6% in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and increased 0.2% in nondurable goods.