Orders for Manufactured Goods Slid 13% in April

Washington, DC, June 3, 2020-New orders for manufactured goods in April, down three of the last four months, decreased $57.5 billion or 13.0% to $384.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed an 11.0% March decrease.

Shipments, down four consecutive months, decreased $63.6 billion or 13.5% to $406.8 billion. This followed a 5.5% March decrease.

Unfilled orders, down two consecutive months, decreased $17.6 billion or 1.6% to $1,107.6 billion. This followed a 2.1% March decrease.

The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 7.62, up from 6.70 in March. Inventories, down four consecutive months, decreased $2.6 billion or 0.4% to $686.5 billion. This followed a 1.1% March decrease. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.69, up from 1.46 in March.