According to a release from the US Census Bureau Friday, new orders for manufactured durable goods in September increased $8.2 billion or 3.7 percent to $233.4 billion. This increase, up five of the last six months, followed a 0.2 percent August increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.1 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.2 percent. Transportation equipment, also up five of the last six months, drove the increase, $8.4 billion or 12.3 percent to $77.0 billion. This was led by nondefense aircraft and parts, which increased $6.9 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in September, up two consecutive months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.2 percent to $231.8 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992, and followed a 0.8 percent August increase. Primary metals, up five of the last six months, led the increase, $0.2 billion or 0.8 percent to $25.8 billion.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in September, up five of the last six months, increased $3.3 billion or 0.9 percent to $382.7 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis, and followed a 0.1 percent August increase. Transportation equipment, up sixteen of the last seventeen months, led the increase, $1.8 billion or 1.5 percent to $119.0 billion.
