New orders for manufactured durable goods in April increased $5.6 billion (2.9 percent) to $193.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced on May 26. This was the fourth increase in the last five months and followed a slight March decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 1.0 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.4 percent.
Transportation equipment, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, had the largest increase, $7.0 billion (16.1 percent) to $50.7 billion. This was due to nondefense aircraft and parts which increased $7.3 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, up two consecutive months, increased $2.7 billion (1.4 percent) to $196.0 billion. This followed a 2.1 percent March increase.
Computers and electronic products, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, had the largest increase, $2.5 billion (8.1 percent) to $33.4 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in April, up three of the last four months, increased $3.5 billion (0.4 percent) to $801.3 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent March decrease.
Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four months, had the largest increase, $2.3 billion (0.5 percent) to $480.2 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, up four consecutive months, increased $1.9 billion (0.7 percent) to $301.4 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent March increase.
Primary metals, up six consecutive months, had the largest increase, $1.2 billion (4.2 percent) to $29.9 billion.
Capital Goods
Non-defense new orders for capital goods in April increased $5.5 billion (9.2 percent) to $66.1 billion.
Shipments increased $100 million (0.2 percent) to $62.4 billion. Unfilled orders increased $3.7 billion (0.8 percent) to $483.7 billion. Inventories increased $1.2 billion (0.9 percent) to $125.3 billion.
Defense new orders for capital goods in April decreased $200 million (2.1 percent) to $10.7 billion.
Shipments decreased $0.4 billion (3.8 percent) to $10.6 billion. Unfilled orders increased $100 million (0.1 percent) to $139.6 billion. Inventories decreased $300 million (1.6 percent) to $17.9 billion.
Revised and Recently Benchmarked March Data
Revised and recently benchmarked seasonally adjusted March figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $414.7 billion (revised from $412.4 billion); shipments, $419.6 billion (revised from $418.5 billion); unfilled orders, $797.8 billion (revised from $796.5 billion); and total inventories, $519.1 billion (revised from $518.3 billion).
