U.S. durable goods orders fell 1.3% in August

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August decreased $2.5 billion, or 1.3 percent, to $191.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced on September 24. Down three of the last four months, this decrease followed a 0.7 percent July increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 2.0 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 1.2 percent.

Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, had the largest decrease, $5.3 billion (10.3 percent) to $46.6 billion. This was due to non-defense aircraft and parts, which decreased $3.6 billion.

Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $3.1 billion (1.5 percent) to $197.9 billion. This followed a 2.5 percent July increase. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, had the largest decrease, $3.1 billion (5.9 percent) to $49.5 billion.

Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, down two consecutive months, decreased $800 million (0.1 percent) to $802.4 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent July decrease. Transportation equipment, down four consecutive months, had the largest decrease, $3.0 billion (0.6 percent) to $473.1 billion.

Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, up eight consecutive months, increased $1.3 billion (0.4 percent) to $312.4 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent July increase. Transportation equipment, also up eight consecutive months, had the largest increase, $600 million (0.7 percent) to $80.9 billion.

Capital Goods
Non-defense new orders for capital goods in August decreased $600 million (0.9 percent) to $64.9 billion. Shipments decreased $200 million (0.3 percent) to $65.4 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $500 million (0.1 percent) to $487.2 billion. Inventories increased $1.1 billion (0.8 percent) to $130.8 billion.

Defense new orders for capital goods in August decreased $100 million (1.5 percent) to $9.4 billion. Shipments decreased $400 million (4.2 percent) to $9.2 billion. Unfilled orders increased $200 million (0.1 percent) to $139.8 billion. Inventories decreased $300 million (1.9 percent) to $17.6 billion.

Revised July Data
Revised seasonally adjusted July figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $410.0 billion (revised from $409.5 billion); shipments, $417.4 billion (revised from $417.1 billion); unfilled orders, $803.2 billion (revised from $802.8 billion); and total inventories, $525.8 billion (revised from $526.0 billion).