New orders for manufactured durable goods in August increased $4.6 billion, or 1.8%, to $263.5 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

This increase, up 15 of the last 16 months, followed a 0.5% July increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.7%. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.2%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.4%. Transportation equipment, up three of the last four months, led the increase, $4.2 billion, or 5.5%, to $80.8 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $1.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $256.1 billion. This followed a 2.0 percent July increase. Transportation equipment, down following two consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $2.0 billion or 2.7 percent to $73.5 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up seven consecutive months, increased $11.8 billion or 1% to $1,239.3 billion. This followed a 0.5% July increase. Transportation equipment, up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $7.3 billion, or 0.9%, to $820.8 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, up seven consecutive months, increased $3.4 billion, or 0.8%, to $457.9 billion. This followed a 0.8% July increase. Transportation equipment, also up seven consecutive months, led the increase, $1.3 billion, or 0.8%, to $153.4 billion.

Capital Goods

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in August increased $7.4 billion, or 9%, to $89.9 billion. Shipments increased $0.2 billion, or 0.3%, to $79.4 billion. Unfilled orders increased $10.5 billion, or 1.4%, to $754.9 billion. Inventories increased $0.9 billion, or 0.4%, to $201.2 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in August decreased $1 billion, or 8.3%, to $11.4 billion. Shipments decreased $0.3 billion, or 2.3%, to $12.4 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $0.9 billion, or 0.5%, to $187.7 billion. Inventories increased $0.2 billion, or 0.8%, to $21 billion.

Revised July Data

Revised seasonally adjusted July figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $509.6 billion (revised from $508.1 billion); shipments, $508.0 billion (revised from $508.5 billion); unfilled orders, $1,227.5 billion (revised from $1,225.6 billion) and total inventories, $745.1 billion (revised from $744.4 billion).