Orders for Manufactured Goods Up 1.0% in February

Washington, DC, April 4, 2017—New orders for manufactured goods in February, up seven of the last eight months, increased $4.8 billion or 1.0% to $476.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 1.5% January increase.

Shipments, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.3% to $480.0 billion. This followed a 0.3% January increase.

Unfilled orders, up following three consecutive monthly decreases, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $1,115.3 billion.

This followed a 0.3% January decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.53, down from 6.57 in January.

Inventories, up seven of the last eight months, increased $1.2 billion or 0.2% to $630.0 billion. This followed a 0.3% January increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.31, unchanged from January.