New orders for manufactured goods in February, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $7.5 billion or 1.6 percent to $488.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 1 percent January decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.7 percent.
Shipments, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $4.5 billion or 0.9 percent to $493.5 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent January decrease.
Unfilled orders, up twelve of the last thirteen months, increased $2.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $1,062.5 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a slight January increase.
Inventories, up fourteen of the last fifteen months, increased $4.1 billion or 0.7 percent to $642.1 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis and followed a 0.2 percent January increase.
New orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $4.9 billion or 2.2 percent to $229.1 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 1.4 percent January decrease.
Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, up $4.7 billion or 7 percent to $71.4 billion.
New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $2.7 billion or 1 percent to $259.7 billion.
By stage of fabrication, February materials and supplies increased 1 percent in durable goods and 0.6 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.8 percent in durable goods and 1.5 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.6 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.1 percent in nondurable goods.
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