Manufactured Goods Orders Up for 3rd Consecutive Month in Aug.

Washington, DC, October 5, 2016—New orders for manufactured goods in August, up two consecutive months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.2% to $453.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 1.4% July increase.

Shipments, up five of the last six months, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $458.1 billion. This followed a 0.4% July decrease.

Unfilled orders, down three consecutive months, decreased $1.6 billion or 0.1% to $1,123.2 billion. This followed a 0.2% July decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.81, up from 6.79 in July.

Inventories, up two consecutive months, increased $1.0 billion or 0.2% to $622.0 billion. This followed a 0.2% July increase. The inventories-to- shipments ratio was 1.36, unchanged from July.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up two consecutive months, increased $0.3 billion or 0.1% to $227.3 billion, up from the previously published virtually unchanged decrease. This followed a 3.6% July increase.

Transportation equipment, also up two consecutive months, drove the increase, $0.6 billion or 0.7% to $78.2 billion.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $0.4 billion or 0.2% to $225.9 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.4 billion or 0.2% to $232.2 billion, up from the previously published 0.4% decrease. This followed a virtually unchanged July increase.

Transportation equipment, down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, $0.7 billion or 0.9% to $80.1 billion.

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up five of the last six months, increased $0.4 billion or 0.2% to $225.9 billion. This followed a 0.8% July decrease. Beverage and tobacco products, up three consecutive months, led the increase, $0.1 billion or 1.0% to $12.6 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, down three consecutive months, decreased $1.6 billion or 0.1% to $1,123.2 billion, virtually unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 0.2% July decrease.

Transportation equipment, also down three consecutive months, drove the decrease, $1.9 billion or 0.2% to $769.1 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, up two consecutive months, increased $0.6 billion or 0.2% to $383.8 billion, up from the previously published 0.1% increase. This followed a 0.4% July increase.

Machinery, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 0.5% to $65.7 billion.

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up five of the last six months, increased $0.4 billion or 0.2% to $238.1 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged July decrease. Petroleum and coal products, up four of the last five months, led the increase, $0.4 billion or 1.5% to $25.4 billion.

By stage of fabrication, August materials and supplies decreased 0.4% in durable goods and in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.4% in durable goods and increased 1.3% in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.5% in durable goods and increased 0.1% in nondurable goods.