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 January, down six consecutive months, decreased $6.9 billion or 1.9 percent to $351.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 4.9 percent December decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.9 percent. Shipments, also down six consecutive months, decreased $6.6 billion or 1.7 percent to $369.4 billion. This also was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 3.3 percent December decrease. Unfilled orders, down four consecutive months, decreased $13.5 billion or 1.7 percent to $786.8 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since September 2002-January 2003 and was the largest percent decrease in unfilled orders since June 2002. This followed a 1.5 percent December decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 5.97, up from 5.85 in December. Inventories, down five consecutive months, decreased $4.4 billion or 0.8 percent to $537.6 billion. This also was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since March 2003-January 2004 and followed a 1.9 percent December decrease. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.46, up from 1.44 in December.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in January, down six consecutive months, decreased $7.8 billion or 4.5 percent to $164.9 billion, revised from the previously published 5.2 percent decrease. This also was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 4.6 percent December decrease.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $1.0 billion or 0.5 percent to $187.0 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in January, down six consecutive months, decreased $7.5 billion or 4.0 percent to $182.4 billion, revised from the previously published 3.7 percent decrease. This also was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.5 percent December decrease.

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up following five consecutive monthly decreases, increased $1.0 billion or 0.5 percent to $187.0 billion. This followed a 5.1 percent December decrease. This increase was due to petroleum and coal products, which increased $2.7 billion or 9.4 percent to $32.0 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in January, down four consecutive months, decreased $13.5 billion or 1.7 percent to $786.8 billion, revised from the previously published 1.9 percent decrease. This followed a 1.5 percent December decrease.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in January, down following sixteen consecutive monthly increases, decreased $2.8 billion or 0.8 percent to $340.7 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 0.4 percent December increase.

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down five consecutive months, decreased $1.6 billion or 0.8 percent to $196.9 billion. This followed a 5.5 percent December decrease. Printing led the decrease, down $0.4 billion or 5.8 percent to $6.6 billion.

By stage of fabrication, January materials and supplies decreased 0.1 percent in durable goods and 1.5 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process decreased 0.5 percent in durable goods and increased 2.0 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods decreased 2.1 percent in durable goods and 1.4 percent in nondurable goods.


Available at:

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