New orders for manufactured goods in March, up following seven consecutive monthly decreases, increased $9.6 billion or 2.1% to $476.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 0.1% February decrease. Shipments, up two consecutive months, increased $2.3 billion or 0.5% to $482.2 billion. This followed a 0.4% February increase. Unfilled orders, up following three consecutive monthly decreases, increased $1.0 billion or 0.1% to $1,157.3 billion. This followed a 0.5% February decrease.

The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.67, down from 6.70 in February. Inventories, down three of the last four months, decreased $1.1 billion or 0.2% to $649.1 billion. This followed a $0.2 billion, or virtually unchanged, February increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from February.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up two of the last three months, increased $10.2 billion or 4.4 percent to $241.2 billion, up from the previously published 4.0 percent increase. This followed a 1.4 percent February decrease.

Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, led the increase, $9.5 billion or 13.5 percent to $80.4 billion.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased $0.6 billion or 0.3 percent to $235.3 billion.

To read the full U.S. Census Bureau report, click here .