Orders for Manufactured Goods Rose 1.4% in September

Washington, DC, November 3, 2017-New orders for manufactured goods in September, up three of the last four months, increased $6.5 billion or 1.4% to $478.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 1.2% August increase.

Shipments, up nine of the last ten months, increased $3.9 billion or 0.8% to $480.4 billion. This followed a 0.6% August increase.

Unfilled orders, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2.7 billion or 0.2% to $1,135.0 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged August decrease.

The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.70, down from 6.76 in August. Inventories, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $4.4 billion or 0.7% to $660.8 billion. This followed a 0.6% August increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.38, unchanged from August.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in September, up three of the last four months, increased $4.7 billion or 2.0% to $238.4 billion, down from the previously published 2.2% increase. This followed a 2.1% August increase. Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four months, led the increase, $3.6 billion or 4.7% to $80.9 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $1.8 billion or 0.8% to $240.1 billion.