Inventories-to-shipments ratio unchanged from February
03 May '08
4 min read
Shipments: Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, down four of the last five months, decreased $0.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $210.1 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 2.6 percent February decrease.
Transportation equipment, down four of the last five months, had the largest decrease, $1.0 billion or 1.7 percent to $54.2 billion.
Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up two of the last three months, increased $5.6 billion or 2.6 percent to $218.6 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.1 percent February decrease.
This increase was led by petroleum and coal products, which increased $4.4 billion or 8.7 percent to $55.0 billion. The petroleum and coal products were also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992.
Unfilled Orders: Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up thirty-four of the last thirty-five months, increased $8.9 billion or 1.1 percent to $832.3 billion, revised from the previously published 0.9 percent increase. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.0 percent February increase.
Transportation equipment, up twenty-nine of the last thirty months, had the largest increase, $7.7 billion or 1.6 percent to $495.1 billion.
Inventories: Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, up eight of the last nine months, increased $3.1 billion or 1.0 percent to $326.6 billion, revised from the previously published 1.1 percent increase. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.4 percent February increase.
Transportation equipment, up fourteen of the last fifteen months, had the largest increase, $1.6 billion or 1.9 percent to $85.5 billion.
Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up six of the last seven months, increased $1.9 billion or 0.9 percent to $217.7 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.1 percent February increase. Petroleum and coal products drove the increase, up $2.0 billion or 4.9 percent to $43.6 billion.
March materials and supplies increased 0.6 percent in durable goods and 0.2 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 1.6 percent in durable goods and 0.5 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.6 percent in durable goods and 1.5 percent in nondurable goods.