Orders for Manufactured Goods Slid 0.6% in April

Washington, DC, June 4, 2021-New orders for manufactured goods in April, down following eleven consecutive monthly increases, decreased $2.9 billion or 0.6% to $485.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 1.4% March increase.

Shipments, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.4% to $487.8 billion. This followed a 2.1% March increase.

Unfilled orders, up three consecutive months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.2% to $1,196.9 billion. This followed a 0.5% March increase.

The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.84, down from 7.00 in March. Inventories, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $2.4 billion or 0.3% to $723.6 billion. This followed a 0.8% March increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.48, unchanged from March.