New orders for manufactured goods in September, up four of the last five months, increased $3.4 billion or 0.7% to $515.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 2.6% August increase.

Shipments, up 16 of the last 17 months, increased $4.6 billion or 0.9% to $509.8 billion. This followed a 0.7% August increase. Unfilled orders, up 10 of the last 11 months, increased $9.7 billion or 0.8% to $1,186.5 billion. This followed a 0.9% August increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.64, down from 6.67 in August.

Inventories, up 23 consecutive months, increased $3.7 billion or 0.5% to $680.4 billion. This followed a 0.1% August increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.33, down from 1.34 in August.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in September, up three of the last four months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.7% to $262.0 billion, down from the previously published 0.8% increase. This followed a 4.7% August increase. Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four months, drove the increase, $1.9 billion or 1.9% to $97.4 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $1.6 billion or 0.6% to $253.3 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in September, up four of the last five months, increased $3.0 billion or 1.2% to $256.5 billion, down from the previously published 1.3% increase. This followed a 0.9% August increase. Transportation equipment, up three of the last four months, led the increase, $2.8 billion or 3.3% to $89.4 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up 15 of the last 16 months, increased $1.6 billion or 0.6% to $253.3 billion. This followed a 0.6% August increase. Petroleum and coal products, up 14 of the last 15 months, led the increase, $1.4 billion or 2.4% to $57.9 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in September, up 10 of the last 11 months, increased $9.7 billion or 0.8% to $1,186.5 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.9% August increase. Transportation equipment, up seven of the last eight months, led the increase, $8.0 billion or 1.0% to $818.8 billion.

Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in September, up 20 of the last 21 months, increased $3.0 billion or 0.7% to $410.9 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.2% August decrease. Transportation equipment, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $1.2 billion or 0.9% to $130.5 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up 15 consecutive months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.2% to $269.5 billion. This followed a 0.5% August increase.

Petroleum and coal products, up five of the last six months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 0.8% to $43.2 billion. By stage of fabrication, September materials and supplies increased 0.8% in durable goods and decreased 0.3% in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.7% in durable goods and increased 2.2% in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.7% in durable goods and decreased 0.2% in nondurable goods.