U.S. factory orders increased 1.3% in March

New orders for manufactured goods in March, up 11 of the last 12 months, increased $5.0 billion, or 1.3 percent, to $391.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported on May 4. This followed a 1.3 percent February increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 3.1 percent.

Shipments, up seven consecutive months, increased $8.6 billion (2.2 percent) to $395.6 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent February increase.

Unfilled orders, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $800 million (0.1 percent) to $721.7 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent February increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 5.40, down from 5.52 in February.

Inventories, up five of the last six months, increased $1.5 billion (0.3 percent) to $500.7 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent February increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.27, down from 1.29 in February.

New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $1.0 billion (0.6 percent) to $178.7 billion, revised from the previously published 1.3 percent decrease. This followed a 1.6 percent February increase.

Transportation, down two consecutive months, had the largest decrease, $5.7 billion (12.3 percent) to $40.5 billion.

New orders for manufactured non-durable goods increased $6.0 billion (2.9 percent) to $212.8 billion.

Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2.6 billion (1.4 percent) to $182.8 billion, revised from the previously published 1.2 percent increase. This followed a 0.3 percent February decrease.

Machinery, up four of the last five months, had the largest increase, $1.1 billion (4.8 percent) to $24.3 billion.

Shipments of manufactured non-durable goods, up 11 of the last 12 months, increased $6.0 billion (2.9 percent) to $212.8 billion. This followed a 1.1 percent February increase. Petroleum and coal products, up eight consecutive months, led the increase, up $3.1 billion (6.7 percent) to $49.2 billion.

Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in March, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $800 million (0.1 percent) to $721.7 billion, revised from the previously published 0.3 percent decrease. This followed a 0.5 percent February increase.

Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, had the largest decrease, $4.1 billion (1.0 percent) to $409.3 billion.

Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, up three consecutive months, increased $1.0 billion (0.3 percent) to $305.2 billion, revised from the previously published 0.2 percent increase. This followed a 0.4 percent February increase.

Primary metals, up five consecutive months, had the largest increase, $500 million (1.8 percent) to $27.1 billion.

Inventories of manufactured non-durable goods, up five of the last six months, increased $500 million (0.3 percent) to $195.5 billion. This followed a 1.1 percent February increase. Chemical products drove the increase, up $800 million (1.4 percent) to $62.9 billion.

By stage of fabrication, March materials and supplies increased 0.1 percent in durable goods and 0.5 percent in non-durable goods. Work in process increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and 0.5 percent in non-durable goods. Finished goods increased 0.5 percent in durable goods and decreased slightly in non-durable goods.