Orders for Manufactured Goods Inched Up for 2nd Month in Jan.

Washington, DC, March 19, 2019–New orders for manufactured goods in January–up two consecutive months–increased $0.3 billion or 0.1% to $500.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. 

Shipments, down four consecutive months, decreased $1.8 billion or 0.4% to $503.1 billion. This followed a 0.2% December decrease. 

Unfilled orders, up following three consecutive monthly decreases, increased $1.4 billion or 0.1% to $1,181.9 billion. 

This followed a 0.1% December decrease. The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.57, up from 6.55 in December. 

Inventories, up twenty‐six of the last twenty‐seven months, increased $3.6 billion or 0.5% to $685.7 billion. This followed a 0.1% December increase. The inventories‐to‐shipments ratio was 1.36, up from 1.35 in December.