Core durable goods power past estimates

New Orders

 New orders for manufactured durable goods in January increased $8.5billion or 3.4 percent to $256.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up  nine consecutive months,followed a 1.2percent December increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.4 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.3percent. Transportation, up eight of the last nine months, led the increase, $6.1 billion or 7.8 percent to $85.1 billion.

Shipments 

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in January, up eight of the last nine months, increased $5.1 billion or 2.0 percent to $260.6 billion. This followed a 2.1 percent December increase. Machinery, also up eight of the last nine months, led the increase, $1.1 billion or 3.6 percent to $33.2 billion.

Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in January, up following seven consecutive monthly decreases, increased $1.0 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,072.6 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent December decrease. Fabricated metal products, up nine consecutive months, led the increase, $0.9 billion or 1.2 percent to $78.6 billion. 

Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in January, down two consecutive months, decreased $1.4 billion or 0.3 percent to $424.3 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent December decrease. Transportation
equipment, also down two consecutive months, drove the decrease, $2.3 billion or 1.5 percent to $145.7 billion. 

Capital Goods
Nondefense new orders for capital goods in January increased $4.6 billion or 6.5 percent to $75.6 billion. Shipments increased $2.6 billion or 3.5 percent to $77.1 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $1.5 billion or
0.3 percent to $586.8 billion. Inventories decreased $2.6 billion or 1.4 percent to $191.7 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in January increased $2.5 billion or 20.2 percent to $14.8 billion. Shipments
increased $0.4 billion or 2.8 percent to $13.2 billion. Unfilled orders increased $1.6 billion or 0.9 percent to $179.6 billion. Inventories increased $0.2 billion or 0.8 percent to $21.2 billion.