The following is the unedited transcript of the news release from the U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce.


Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in September, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $8.6 billion or 2.1 percent to $411.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This was at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.3 percent August decrease.

Shipments, down three of the last four months, decreased $14.1 billion or 3.5 percent to $392.4 billion. This followed a 0.8 percent August increase. Unfilled orders, up sixteen of the last seventeen months, increased $24.8 billion or 3.9 percent to $656.9 billion. This was at the highest level since the series began and followed a 0.5 percent August increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 4.44, up from 4.20 in August. Inventories, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $3.0 billion or 0.6 percent to $479.4 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent August increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.22, up from 1.17 in August.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in September, up four of the last five months, increased $17.5 billion or 8.3 percent to $228.1 billion, revised from the previously published 7.8 percent increase. This was at the highest level since the series began and followed a slight August increase.New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased $8.9 billion or 4.6 percent to $183.1 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in September, down two of the last three months, decreased $5.3 billion or 2.5 percent to $209.3 billion, revised from the previously published 2.8 percent decrease. This followed a 2.1 percent August increase.

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down three of the last four months, decreased $8.9 billion or 4.6 percent to $183.1 billion. This was led by petroleum and coal products, which decreased $5.5 billion or 13.9 percent to $33.9 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in September, up sixteen of the last seventeen months, increased $24.8 billion or 3.9 percent to $656.9 billion, revised from the previously published 3.8 percent increase. This was at the highest level since the series began and followed a 0.5 percent August increase.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in September, up eight of the last nine months, increased $3.1 billion or 1.1 percent to $291.3 billion, revised from the previously published 1.0 percent increase. This followed a 0.7 percent August increase.

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down following six consecutive monthly increases, decreased slightly to $188.1 billion. This was due to petroleum and coal products, which decreased $1.2 billion or 3.9 percent to $29.0 billion.

By stage of fabrication, September materials and supplies increased 0.6 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.6 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 2.0 percent in durable goods and decreased 1.3 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.5 percent in durable goods and 0.9 percent in nondurable goods.


Available at:

http://www.census.gov/indicator/www/m3/index.htm