The U.S. Census Bureau announced that new orders for manufactured durable goods in November decreased $1.7 billion or 0.7% to $242.3 billion. The decrease, down three of the last four months, followed a 0.3% October increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.4%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.1%. Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, led the decrease, $0.9 billion or 1.2% to $75.5 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in November, down three of the last four months, decreased $0.9 billion or 0.4% to $245.3 billion. This followed a 0.1% October decrease. Transportation equipment, down following two consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $0.7 billion or 1.0% to $72.2 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in November, up nineteen of the last twenty months, increased $4.4 billion or 0.4% to $1,178.9 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.5% October increase. Transportation equipment, up fourteen of the last fifteen months, led the increase, $3.3 billion or 0.4% to $749.9 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in November, up nineteen of the last twenty months, increased $1.7 billion or 0.4% to $408.2 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis and followed a 0.4% October increase. Transportation equipment, also up nineteen of the last twenty months, led the increase, $1.2 billion or 0.9% to $133.2 billion.

Capital Goods

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in November increased $0.4 billion or 0.5% to $82.8 billion. Shipments decreased $0.5 billion or 0.6% to $79.3 billion. Unfilled orders increased $3.5 billion or 0.5% to $739.2 billion. Inventories increased $0.9 billion or 0.5% to $186.5 billion.

Defense new orders for capital goods in November decreased $0.8 billion or 8.1% to $9.5 billion. Shipments increased $0.1 billion or 1.1% to $9.9 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $0.4 billion or 0.2% to $158.0 billion. Inventories increased $0.2 billion or 0.9% to $24.1 billion.

To read the Census Bureau report, click here.