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 August, down two consecutive months, decreased slightly to $403.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.0% July decrease. Shipments, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $4.5 billion or 1.1% to $407.8 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.1% July decrease. Unfilled orders, up fifteen of the last sixteen months, increased $2.8 billion or 0.4% to $632.0 billion. This was at the highest level since the series began and followed a 1.2% July increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 4.20, down from 4.26 in July. Inventories, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.4% to $475.5 billion. This followed a 0.8% July increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.17, unchanged from July.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, down for the second consecutive month, decreased slightly to $210.5 billion, revised from the previously published 0.5% decrease. This followed a 2.8% July decrease. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased slightly to $193.1 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, up three of the last four months, increased $4.5 billion or 2.1% to $214.7 billion, revised from the previously published 1.9% increase. This was at the highest level since the series began and followed a 1.3% July decrease.

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down two of the last three months, decreased slightly to $193.1 billion. This was due to petroleum and coal products, which decreased $1.5 billion or 3.7% to $39.3 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up fifteen of the last sixteen months, increased $2.8 billion or 0.4 % to $632.0 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This was at the highest level since the series began and followed a 1.2% July increase.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, up seven of the last eight months, increased $0.9 billion or 0.3% to $287.3 billion, revised from the previously published 0.2% increase. This followed a 1.1% July increase.

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up eight of the last nine months, increased $0.9 billion or 0.5% to $188.2 billion. This was at the highest level since the series began and was led by petroleum and coal products, which increased $0.5 billion or 1.5 % to $30.5 billion.

By stage of fabrication, August materials and supplies increased 0.8% in durable goods and 0.6% in nondurable goods. Work in process decreased 0.7 % in durable goods and increased 1.2% in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 1.0 % in durable goods and 0.2 % in nondurable goods.


Available at:

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