New orders for manufactured goods in April fell 1.8 percent, to $398 billion.
Shipments were virtually unchanged at $394.9 billion. Unfilled orders increased 1.5 percent, to $607.9 billion. And inventories rose 0.7 percent, to $460.9 billion.
Summary New orders for manufactured goods in April, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $7.4 billion or 1.8 percent to $398.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 4.0 percent March increase.
Shipments, up six of the last seven months, increased slightly to $394.9 billion. This followed a 1.0 percent March increase.
Unfilled orders, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $9.2 billion or 1.5 percent to $607.9 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 3.0 percent March increase. The unfilled orders-toshipments ratio was 4.25, up from 4.19 in March.
Inventories, up six of the last seven months, increased $3.0 billion or 0.7 percent to $460.9 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent March increase. The inventoriesto- shipments ratio was 1.17, up from 1.16 in March.
New Orders New orders for manufactured durable goods in April, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $9.6 billion or 4.4 percent to $209.9 billion, revised from the previously published 4.8 percent decrease. This followed a 6.0 percent March increase.
Transportation equipment, down following two consecutive monthly increases, had the largest decrease, $8.1 billion or 11.7 percent to $60.8 billion.New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $2.2 billion or 1.2 percent to $188.1 billion.