Advance: May U.S. Durable Goods Orders Were Flat - Modern Distribution Management

Log In

Advance: May U.S. Durable Goods Orders Were Flat

Though weak, it topped economists' expectations.
New orders for durable goods November 2020
Author
Date

U.S. monthly manufactured durable goods orders ticked up 0.1% in May, according to an advance report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal had forecasted a May decline of 0.1%.

Released June 27, the report showed that May orders totaled $281.1 billion and increased for a fourth consecutive month, but was another deceleration after April’s 0.2% (revised from 0.7%), March’s 0.8% and February’s 1.2%.

Year-over-year, total durable goods orders were also up 0.1%.

The subtle May increase was driven by transportation equipment, which was up 0.6% vs. April. Excluding transportation, new orders dipped 0.1%. Excluding defense, May’s new orders decreased 0.2% vs. April.

Capital goods orders decreased 0.9%.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods decreased 0.3% in May vs. April, following three straight monthly increases, including April’s 1.2% gain. Transportation led the decrease, down 0.8%.

May’s unfilled orders for durable goods — up 46 consecutive months — increased 0.2%, following a 0.1% gain in April. Transportation equipment led the increase at a 0.4% gain.

May’s inventories of durable goods — up five of the past six months — increased 0.3%, following April’s 0.1% increase. Transportation led the increase at a 0.7% gain

Click chart for larger version

Here’s how advance monthly new orders and shipments of different durable goods product categories fared in April, seasonally-adjusted, according to Census Bureau data:

Primary Metals

  • Shipments: 0.0%
  • New Orders: -0.4%

Fabricated Metal Products

  • Shipments: 0.0%
  • New Orders: +0.3%

Machinery

  • Shipments: -0.1%
  • New Orders: -0.5%

Computers and Electronic Products

  • Shipments: 0.0%
  • New Orders: +0.1%

Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components

  • Shipments: -0.5%
  • New Orders: -0.4%

Transportation Equipment

  • Shipments: -0.8%
  • New Orders: +0.6%

All Other Durable Goods

  • Shipments: -0.1%
  • New Orders: -0.1%

Capital Goods

  • Shipments: -1.2%
  • New Orders: -0.5%

Related Posts

Share this article

About the Author
Recommended Reading
Leave a Reply

Leave a Comment

Sign Up for the MDM Update Newsletter

The MDM update newsletter is your best source for news and trends in the wholesale distribution industry.

Get the MDM Update Newsletter

Wholesale distribution news and trends delivered right to your inbox.

Sign-up for our free newsletter and get:

  • Up-to-date news in a quick-to-read format
  • Free access to webcasts, podcasts and live events
  • Exclusive whitepapers, research and reports
  • And more!

2

articles left

Want more Premium content from MDM?

Subscribe today and get:

  • New issues twice each month
  • Unlimited access to mdm.com, including 10+ years of archived data
  • Current trends analysis, market data and economic updates
  • Discounts on select store products and events

Subscribe to continue reading

MDM Premium Subscribers get:

  • Unlimited access to MDM.com
  • 1 year digital subscription, with new issues twice a month
  • Trends analysis, market data and quarterly economic updates
  • Deals on select store products and events

1

article
left

You have one free article remaining

Subscribe to MDM Premium to get unlimited access. Your subscription includes:

  • Two new issues a month
  • Access to 10+ years of archived data on mdm.com
  • Quarterly economic updates, trends analysis and market data
  • Store and event discounts

To continue reading, you must be an MDM Premium subscriber.

Join other distribution executives who use MDM Premium to optimize their business. Our insights and analysis help you enter the right new markets, turbocharge your sales and marketing efforts, identify business partners that help you scale, and stay ahead of your competitors.

Register for full access

By providing your email, you agree to receive announcements from us and our partners for our newsletter, events, surveys, and partner resources per MDM Terms & Conditions. You can withdraw consent at any time.

Learn More about Custom Reports

Request a Market Prospector Demo

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.