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





Full Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders
November 2005

Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in November increased $10.1 billion or 2.5 percent to $407.7 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 1.7 percent October increase. Shipments, up six of the last seven months, increased $0.9 billion or 0.2 percent to $397.0 billion. This was at
the highest level since the series began and followed a 0.7 percent October increase. Unfilled orders, up seven consecutive months, increased $18.1 billion or 3.0 percent to $621.4 billion. This was at the highest level since the series began and followed a 1.4 percent October increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 4.27, up from 4.16 in October. Inventories, up five of the last six months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.2 percent to $467.1 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent October increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was unchanged at 1.18.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in November, up three of the last four months, increased $9.3 billion or 4.4 percent to $223.1 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This was at the highest level since the series first began and followed a 3.1 percent October increase. Transportation equipment, up three of the last four months, had the largest increase, $10.3 billion or 15.8 percent to $75.2 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $0.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $184.6 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in November, up three of the last four months, increased $0.1 billion to $212.4 billion, revised from the previously published 0.2 percent decrease. This was at the highest level since the series began and followed a 1.2 percent October increase. Machinery, up six of the last seven months, had thelargest increase, $0.3 billion or 0.9 percent to $27.2 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up four of the last five months, increased $0.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $184.6 billion. This was due to chemical products, which increased $1.1 billion or 2.4 percent to $47.0 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in November, up seven consecutive months, increased $18.1 billion or 3.0 percent to $621.4 billion, revised from the previously published 3.1 percent increase. This was at the highest level since the series began and followed a 1.4 percent October increase. Transportation equipment, up seven consecutive months, had the largest increase, $16.2 billion or 5.4
percent to $316.1 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in November, up four of the last five months, increased $1.5 billion or 0.5 percent to $285.2 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.5 percent October increase. Computers and electronic products, up four of the last five months, had the largest increase, $0.6 billion or 1.4 percent to $46.2 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $181.9 billion. The decrease was led by petroleum and coal products, which decreased $0.8 billion or 3.1 percent to $24.6 billion. By stage of fabrication, November materials and supplies increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.8 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.8 percent in durable goods and 0.7 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.5 percent in nondurable goods.



Available at: www.census.gov