New orders for manufactured durable goods in February increased $900 million, or 0.5 percent, to $178.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced on March 24. This was the third consecutive monthly increase and followed a 3.9 percent January increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.9 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.6 percent.
Machinery, up three of the last four months, had the largest increase, $1.1 billion (4.7 percent) to $23.3 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, down two consecutive months, decreased $1.0 billion (0.6 percent) to $179.8 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent January decrease.
Transportation equipment, also down two consecutive months, had the largest decrease, $1.5 billion (3.4 percent) to $43.8 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up two consecutive months, increased $2.9 billion (0.4 percent) to $722.1 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent January increase.
Transportation equipment, also up two consecutive months, had the largest increase, $2.2 billion (0.5 percent) to $413.2 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up two consecutive months, increased $1.0 billion (0.3 percent) to $303.9 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent January increase.
Primary metals, up four consecutive months, had the largest increase, $400 million (1.6 percent) to $26.5 billion.
Capital Goods
Non-defense new orders for capital goods in February increased $3.0 billion (5.2 percent) to $60.4 billion.
Shipments increased $200 million (0.3 percent) to $57.3 billion. Unfilled orders increased $3.1 billion (0.7 percent) to $412.3 billion. Inventories increased $200 million (0.2 percent) to $132.3 billion.
Defense new orders for capital goods in February decreased $500 million (4.5 percent) to $10.7 billion.
Shipments decreased $500 million (4.6 percent) to $10.8 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $100 million (0.1 percent) to $132.5 billion. Inventories increased $400 million (1.7 percent) to $20.9 billion.
Revised January Data
Revised seasonally adjusted January figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $381.1 billion (revised from $378.4 billion); shipments, $384.7 billion (revised from $383.7 billion); unfilled orders, $719.2 billion (revised from $717.8 billion); and total inventories, $495.3 billion (revised from $495.2 billion).