Factory orders +1.1% in December

Summary 

New orders for manufactured goods in December, up eight consecutive months, increased $5.2 billion or 1.1 percent to $493.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.3 percent November increase. Shipments, also up eight consecutive months, increased $8.4 billion or 1.7 percent to $501.8 billion. This followed a 0.8 percent November increase. Unfilled orders, down nine of the last ten months, decreased $3.0 billion or 0.3 percent to $1,070.8 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged November decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.28, down from 6.40 in November. Inventories, up four of the last five months, increased $2.1 billion or 0.3 percent to $695.7 billion. This followed a 0.8 percent November increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.39, down from 1.41 in November.

New Orders 

New orders for manufactured durable goods in December, up eight consecutive months, increased $1.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $246.4 billion, up from the previously published 0.2 percent increase. This followed a 1.3 percent November increase. Machinery, also up eight consecutive months, led the increase, $0.9 billion or 2.7 percent to $33.4 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $4.1 billion or 1.7 percent to $247.1 billion.

Shipments 

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, up seven of the last eight months, increased $4.3 billion or 1.7 percent to $254.7 billion, up from the previously published 1.4 percent increase. This followed a 0.4 percent November increase. Transportation equipment, also up seven of the last eight months, led the increase, $2.5 billion or 3.1 percent to $85.1 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up eight consecutive months, increased $4.1 billion or 1.7 percent to $247.1 billion. This followed a 1.2 percent November increase. Petroleum and coal products, up seven of the last eight months, led the increase, $2.3 billion or 5.6 percent to $44.2 billion. 

Unfilled Orders 

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in December, down nine of the last ten months, decreased $3.0 billion or 0.3 percent to $1,070.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a virtually unchanged November decrease. Transportation equipment, down ten consecutive months, drove the decrease, $6.8 billion or 1.0 percent to $706.3 billion. 

Inventories 

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in December, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $1.0 billion or 0.2 percent to $425.6 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 0.9 percent November increase. Transportation equipment, down following four consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $2.8 billion or 1.9 percent to $147.9 billion.Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up four of the last five months, increased $3.1 billion or 1.1 percent to $270.2 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent November increase. Petroleum and coal products, up two consecutive months, led the increase, $1.4 billion or 4.3 percent to $32.9 billion. By stage of fabrication, December materials and supplies increased 0.5 percent in durable goods and 1.4 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process decreased 0.2 percent in durable goods and increased 1.1 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods decreased 1.2 percent in durable goods and increased 0.9percent in nondurable goods.