New orders for manufactured durable goods in February decreased $2.9 billion, or 1.1%, to $254 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

This decrease, down following nine consecutive monthly increases, followed a 3.5% January increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.9%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.7%. Transportation, down following five consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $1.3 billion, or 1.6% to $83.6 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, down following five consecutive monthly increases, decreased $9.1 billion or 3.5% to $250.9 billion. This followed a 1.7% January increase. Transportation equipment, also down following five consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $7 billion or 8.2% to $78.6 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up two consecutive months, increased $8.4 billion or 0.8% to $1,082 billion. This followed a 0.2% January increase. Transportation equipment, up following eleven consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $5 billion or 0.7% to $711.1 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2.8 billion or 0.7% to $427.3 billion. This followed a 0.3% January decrease. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $0.9 billion or 0.6% to $146.6 billion.

Capital Goods

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in February increased $4.2 billion or 5.6% to $79.6 billion. Shipments decreased $2.2 billion or 2.9% to $74.5 billion. Unfilled orders increased $5.1 billion or 0.9% to $592.1 billion. Inventories increased $0.3 billion or 0.2% to $192.2 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in February decreased $1.6 billion or 10.6% to $13.5 billion. Shipments decreased $0.1 billion or 0.9% to $13.1 billion. Unfilled orders increased $0.3 billion or 0.2% to $180.2 billion. Inventories increased $0.2 billion or 1% to $21.4 billion.

Revised January Data

Revised seasonally adjusted January figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $509.2 billion (revised from $509.4 billion); shipments, $512.2 billion (revised from $513.3 billion); unfilled orders, $1,073.6 billion (revised from $1,072.8 billion) and total inventories, $696.8 billion (revised from $696.3 billion).