U.S. factory orders climbed 0.9% in September

New orders for manufactured goods in September, up five of the last six months, increased $3.3 billion, or 0.9 percent, to $356.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported on November 3. This followed a 0.8 percent August decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.8 percent.

Shipments, up three of the last four months, increased $2.9 billion (0.8 percent) to $363.1 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent August decrease.

Unfilled orders, down 12 consecutive months, decreased $3.3 billion (0.4 percent) to $733.3 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992. This followed a 0.4 percent August decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 5.83, down from 5.97 in August.

Inventories, down 13 consecutive months, decreased $4.8 billion (1.0 percent) to $492.6 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since February 2001-May 2002 and followed a 0.9 percent August decrease. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.36, down from 1.38 in August.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in September, up two of the last three months, increased $2.2 billion (1.4 percent) to $166.2 billion, revised from the previously published 1.0 percent increase. This followed a 2.7 percent August decrease.

Machinery, up five of the last six months, had the largest increase, $1.7 billion (7.9 percent) to $23.5 billion.

New orders for manufactured non-durable goods increased $1.1 billion (0.6 percent) to $189.9 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in September, up three of the last four months, increased $1.8 billion (1.1 percent) to $173.2 billion, revised from the previously published 0.8 percent increase. This followed a 1.4 percent August decrease.

Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four months, had the largest increase, $2.6 billion (6.1 percent) to $45.1 billion.

Shipments of manufactured non-durable goods, up four of the last five months, increased $1.1 billion (0.6 percent) to $189.9 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent August increase. This increase was led by chemical products, which increased $500 million (1.1 percent) to $50.9 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in September, down 12 consecutive months, decreased $3.3 billion (0.4 percent) to $733.3 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.4 percent August decrease.

Transportation equipment, down 11 of the last 12 months, had the largest decrease, $4.7 billion (1.1 percent) to $426.5 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in September, down nine consecutive months, decreased $3.2 billion (1.0 percent) to $304.9 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 1.5 percent August decrease.

Transportation equipment, down two consecutive months, had the largest decrease, $2.1 billion (2.3 percent) to $89.0 billion.

Inventories of manufactured non-durable goods, down 12 of the last 13 months, decreased $1.6 billion (0.9 percent) to $187.7 billion. This followed a slight August increase. Petroleum and coal products led the decrease, down $1.1 billion (4.2 percent) to $26.0 billion.

By stage of fabrication, September materials and supplies decreased 0.7 percent in durable goods and 0.7 percent in non-durable goods. Work in process decreased 1.1 percent in durable goods and 0.3 percent in non-durable goods. Finished goods decreased 1.4 percent in durable goods and 1.2 percent in non-durable goods.