The U.S. Census Bureau announced the March advance report on durable goods manufacturers’ shipments, inventories and orders:
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up three consecutive months, increased $26.6 billion or 9.2 percent to $315.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced April 24. This followed a 0.9 percent February increase. Excluding transportation, new orders were virtually unchanged. Excluding defense, new orders increased 10.4 percent. Transportation equipment, also up three consecutive months, led the increase, $26.5 billion or 27.0 percent to $124.6 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, up four consecutive months, increased $0.2 billion or 0.1 percent to $293.0 billion. This followed a 1.3 percent February increase. Primary metals, up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $0.2 billion or 0.8 percent to $27.8 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up eight of the last nine months, increased $27.7 billion or 2.0 percent to $1,429.6 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent February increase. Transportation equipment, also up eight of the last nine months, drove the increase, $28.1 billion or 3.1 percent to $931.6 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, up five consecutive months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.1 percent to $533.3 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged February increase. Machinery, up four of the last five months, led the increase, $0.2 billion or 0.2 percent to $94.5 billion.
Capital Goods
Nondefense new orders for capital goods in March increased $26.1 billion or 29.4 percent to $114.9 billion. Shipments decreased $1.6 billion or 1.9 percent to $86.1 billion. Unfilled orders increased $28.8 billion or 3.4 percent to $875.6 billion. Inventories increased $0.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $233.5 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in March decreased $1.3 billion or 9.4 percent to $12.2 billion. Shipments decreased less than $0.1 billion or 0.2 percent to $14.6 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $2.4 billion or 1.1 percent to $208.0 billion. Inventories increased $0.3 billion or 1.1 percent to $27.2 billion.
Revised February Data
Revised seasonally adjusted February figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $593.3 billion (revised from $594.0 billion); shipments, $597.0 billion (revised from $596.8 billion); unfilled orders, $1,401.9 billion (revised from $1,402.7 billion) and total inventories, $864.7 billion (revised from $864.9 billion).