Following is an unedited press release from the Department of Commerce.

Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in August increased $9.7 billion or 2.5 percent to $395.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 2.5 percent decrease in July. Shipments, up for the fourth consecutive month, increased $6.6 billion or 1.7 percent to $393.5 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.1 percent increase in July. Unfilled orders, up for the fourth consecutive month, increased $9.2 billion or 1.6 percent to $590.0 billion. This was at the highest level since the series began and followed a 1.0 percent July increase. Inventories, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.6 billion or 0.1 percent to $463.7 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent July increase.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up four of the last five months, increased $6.9 billion or 3.4 percent to $210.6 billion, up from the previously published 3.3 percent increase.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $2.8 billion or 1.6 percent to $184.7 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, up three of the last four months, increased $3.8 billion or 1.8 percent to $208.8 billion, up from the previously published 1.7 percent increase.

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods increased $2.8 billion or 1.6 percent to $184.7 billion and were at the highest level since the series began.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up for the fourth consecutive month, increased $9.2 billion or 1.6 percent to $590.0 billion, down from the previously published 1.7 percent increase.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, down two of the last three months, decreased $0.8 billion or 0.3 percent to $282.1 billion, down from the previously published 0.2 percent decrease.

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up seven of the last eight months, increased $0.2 billion or 0.1 percent to $181.6 billion.

By stage of fabrication, August materials and supplies decreased 0.2 percent in durable goods and increased 1.0 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process decreased 0.9 percent in durable goods and 0.4 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.3 percent in nondurable goods.

Released October 4, 2005. Note: All figures in text are in seasonally adjusted current dollars. The advance report on durable goods for September is scheduled for October 27, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. and the full report on November 3, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

Our internet address is: http://www.census.gov/m3