New orders for manufactured durable goods in October decreased $4.6 billion or 2.0 percent to $230.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This decrease, down following two consecutive monthly increases, followed a 4.1 percent September increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.1 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 1.3 percent.

Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $4.6 billion or 5.9 percent to $73.0 billion. This was led by nondefense aircraft and parts, which decreased $3.0 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in October, up three consecutive months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.2 percent to $233.2 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992, and followed a 0.5 percent September increase.

Transportation equipment, also up three consecutive months, drove the increase, $0.7 billion or 1.1 percent to $70.9 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in October, up eight of the last nine months, increased $3.5 billion or 0.3 percent to $1,045.4 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis, and followed a 0.9 percent September increase.

Transportation equipment, up two consecutive months, led the increase, $2.1 billion or 0.3 percent to $644.4 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in October, up six of the last seven months, increased $1.2 billion or 0.3 percent to $383.3 billion. This was at the highest
level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis, and followed a 0.8 percent September increase.

Transportation equipment, up seventeen of the last eighteen months, led the increase, $1.1 billion or 0.9 percent to $120.0 billion.

Capital Goods

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in October decreased $3.2 billion or 3.9 percent to $77.9 billion. Shipments increased slightly to $74.2 billion. Unfilled orders increased $3.7 billion or 0.6 percent to $620.8 billion.  Inventories increased $1.0 billion or 0.6 percent to $174.2 billion.

Defense new orders for capital goods in October decreased $1.7 billion or 16.3 percent to $8.7 billion. Shipments decreased $0.2 billion or 2.4 percent to $9.8 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $1.0 billion or 0.6 percent to $167.1 billion. Inventories decreased slightly or 0.2 percent to $23.0 billion.