New orders for manufactured durable goods decreased 0.7 percent to $231.2 billion in April, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This decrease, down following four consecutive monthly increases, followed a 2.3 percent March increase.
Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.4 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.8 percent. Transportation equipment, down following two consecutive monthly increases, was down 1.2 percent to $78.5 billion.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, up nine of the last ten months, increased $0.6 billion or 0.1 percent to $394.2 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent March increase. Fabricated metal products, up three of the last four months, was up 0.6 percent to $48.4 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, down three of the last four months, decreased $0.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $233 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent March decrease. Transportation equipment, down six of the last seven months, led the decrease, $0.4 billion or 0.5 percent to $77.2 billion.
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