New orders for manufactured durable goods in February increased $4.5 billion or 2.2 percent to $211.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up four of the last five months, followed a 3.6 percent January decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.6 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.7 percent.

Transportation equipment, up three of the last four months, had the largest increase, $2.1 billion or 3.9 percent to $57.9 billion. This was led by nondefense aircraft and parts, which increased $1.0 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $206.6 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent January increase. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, had the largest decrease, $1.3 billion or 2.5 percent to $49.2 billion. This followed a 5.7 percent January increase.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up twenty-two of the last twenty-three months, increased $11.5 billion or 1.3 percent to $930.3 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent January increase. Transportation equipment, up thirteen of the last fourteen months, had the largest increase, $8.6 billion or 1.6 percent to $544.0 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up twenty-six consecutive months, increased $1.6 billion or 0.4 percent to $373.7 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.6 percent January increase.

Machinery, up twenty-three consecutive months, had the largest increase, $0.6 billion or 0.9 percent to $62.2 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis.

Capital Goods

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in February increased $1.2 billion or 1.5 percent to $81.8 billion. Shipments increased $0.3 billion or 0.5 percent to $71.2 billion. Unfilled orders increased $10.6 billion or 1.9 percent to $566.1 billion. Inventories increased $1.3 billion or 0.8 percent to $173.1 billion.

Defense new orders for capital goods in February increased $0.8 billion or 12.4 percent to $7.0 billion. Shipments decreased $0.6 billion or 7.8 percent to $6.9 billion. Unfilled orders increased $0.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $147.6 billion. Inventories increased slightly or 0.2 percent to $20.1 billion.

Revised January Data

Revised seasonally adjusted January figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $462.9 billion (revised from $462.6 billion); shipments, $463.1 billion (revised from $463.6 billion); unfilled orders, $918.8 billion (revised from $917.9 billion); and total inventories, $614.3 billion (revised from $614.7 billion