Durable Goods Orders Rose in Feb. for Second Consecutive Month

Washington, DC, March 24, 2017—New orders for manufactured durable goods in February increased $3.9 billion or 1.7% to $235.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau has announced.

This increase, up two consecutive months, followed a 2.3% January increase.

Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.1%. Transportation equipment, also up two consecutive months, led the increase, $3.3 billion or 4.3% to $80.4 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, up three of the last four months, increased $0.6 billion or 0.3% to $239.2 billion. This followed a 0.1% January decrease. Machinery, also up three of the last four months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 0.9% to $31.1 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, down eight of the last nine months, decreased $0.2 billion or virtually unchanged to $1,114.7 billion. This followed a 0.3% January decrease. Transportation equipment, also down eight of the last nine months, drove the decrease, $1.1 billion or 0.1% to $752.7 billion.