Orders for Manufactured Goods Ticked Down in February

Washington, DC, April 8, 2019–New orders for manufactured goods in February, down four of the last five months, decreased $2.6 billion or 0.5 percent to $497.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. 

This followed a virtually unchanged January decrease. 

Shipments, up following four consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2.0 billion or 0.4% to $505.5 billion. This followed a 0.3% January decrease. 

Unfilled orders, down four of the last five months, decreased $3.6 billion or 0.3% to $1,177.6 billion. This followed a 0.1% January increase. 

The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.54, down from 6.57 in January. 

Inventories, up twenty‐seven of the last twenty‐eight months, increased $2.0 billion or 0.3% to $687.8 billion. This followed a 0.5% January increase. The inventories‐to‐shipments ratio was 1.36, unchanged from January.