U.S. factory orders improved 0.7% in latest report

New orders for manufactured goods in November, up four of the last five months, increased $3.2 billion, or 0.7 percent, to $423.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported on January 4. This followed a 0.7 percent October decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 2.4 percent.

Shipments, up three consecutive months, increased $3.4 billion (0.8 percent) to $424.5 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent October increase.

Unfilled orders, up 10 of the last 11 months, increased $4.8 billion (0.6 percent) to $826.9 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent October increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was unchanged at 5.75.

Inventories, also up 10 of the last 11 months, increased $4.1 billion (0.8 percent) to $543.8 billion. This followed a 1.1 percent October increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was unchanged at 1.28.

New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in November, down three of the last four months, decreased $600 million (0.3 percent) to $195.7 billion, revised from the previously published 1.3 percent decrease. This followed a 3.1 percent October decrease.

Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, had the largest decrease, $5.7 billion (11.1 percent) to $46.0 billion.

New orders for manufactured non-durable goods increased $3.7 billion (1.7 percent) to $228.2 billion.

Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in November, also down three of the last four months, decreased $300 million (0.1 percent) to $196.3 billion, revised from the previously published 0.3 percent decrease. This followed a 0.9 percent October decrease.

Transportation equipment, down four consecutive months, had the largest decrease, $1.5 billion (3.1 percent) to $46.6 billion.

Shipments of manufactured non-durable goods, up four consecutive months, increased $3.7 billion (1.7 percent) to $228.2 billion. This followed a 1.5 percent October increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up four consecutive months, led the increase, up $2.3 billion (4.2 percent) to $57.5 billion.

Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in November, up 10 of the last 11 months, increased $4.8 billion (0.6 percent) to $826.9 billion, revised from the previously published 0.4 percent increase. This followed a 0.7 percent October increase.

Machinery, up 10 consecutive months, had the largest increase, $2.1 billion (2.0 percent) to $106.5 billion.

Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in November, up 11 consecutive months, increased $2.0 billion (0.6 percent) to $319.2 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.6 percent October increase.

Transportation equipment, also up 11 consecutive months, had the largest increase, $1.1 billion (1.3 percent) to $84.3 billion.

Inventories of manufactured non-durable goods, up three consecutive months, increased $2.1 billion (0.9 percent) to $224.6 billion. This followed a 2.0 percent October increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up three consecutive months, drove the increase, up $2.4 billion (5.3 percent) to $48.1 billion.

By stage of fabrication, November materials and supplies increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and 1.6 percent in non-durable goods. Work in process increased 0.9 percent in durable goods and 0.3 percent in non-durable goods. Finished goods increased 0.5 percent in durable goods and 0.8 percent in non-durable goods.