EconoIndicators

Durable Goods At a Glance

• New Orders: $226.6 billion
• New Orders Change: Up 5.2%
• Shipments Change: Down 0.1%
• Unfilled Orders Change: Up 2.5%
• Inventory Change: up 1.1%
• Nondefense Capital Goods Change: Up 5.4%

Technorati Tags: durable goods, manufacturers, orders, inventories

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ADVANCE REPORT ON MANUFACTURERS’ SHIPMENTS, INVENTORIES, AND ORDERS

New orders for manufactured durable goods in December increased $11.2 billion or 5.2 percent to $226.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This was the second consecutive monthly increase and followed 0.5 percent November increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 2.6 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.9 percent.
Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, down four of the last five months, decreased $0.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $212.6 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent November decrease.
Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in December, up thirty-one of the last thirty-two months, increased $20.0 billion or 2.5 percent to $808.6 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.2 percent November increase.
Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in December, up five of the last six months, increased $3.5 billion or 1.1 percent to $320.7 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.8 percent November increase.
Capital Goods Industries

Nondefense

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in December increased $4.2 billion or 5.4 percent to $81.1 billion.

Defense

Defense new orders for capital goods in December increased $5.2 billion or 80.6 percent to $11.6 billion.

Durable Goods Orders December 2007

Source: Commerce Department, Census Bureau