Durable Goods New Orders Growth Shrinks to Zero, 0.5 Percent Expected

Durable goods from census department

The Advance Monthly Durable Goods Report for July shows order growth collapsed to zero,

New Orders 

  • New orders for manufactured durable goods in July decreased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $273.5 billion. This decrease, down following four consecutive monthly increases, followed a 2.2 percent June increase. 
  • Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.3 percent. 
  • Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.2 percent. 
  • Transportation equipment, down following three consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $0.6 billion or 0.7 percent to $93.0 billion. 

Shipments 

  • Shipments of manufactured durable goods in July, up fourteen of the last fifteen months, increased $1.0 billion or 0.4 percent to $270.5 billion. 
  • This followed a 0.3 percent June increase. 
  • Transportation equipment, up nine of the last ten months, drove the increase, $1.0 billion or 1.1 percent to $86.3 billion.  

The Bloomberg Econoday consensus was 0.5% in a very wide range of -0.4 % to 2.1 %. Durable goods orders are extremely volatile which accounts for the wide range. 

However, with housing plunging, and thus demand for appliances, I do not know why anyone would expect another big jump.  

Durable Goods New Orders in Millions of Dollars

Durable goods from census department, chart by Mish

The growth in orders looks stunning, but it is not inflation-adjusted. Here is a chart that puts things in a better perspective.

Durable Goods New Orders Percent Change From a Year Ago

Durable goods from census department, chart by Mish

Transportation is extremely volatile due to aircraft which also has very long lead times.

Durable goods orders are barely keeping up with inflation. Motor vehicles and parts are not. 

This data is much weaker than it appears. 

A Big Housing Bust is the Key to Understanding This Recession

It’s cyclicals (housing and durable goods) that will drive the recession. With that in mind, note that A Big Housing Bust is the Key to Understanding This Recession

Housing drives durable goods, and existing home sales far more than new home sales. Both have been exceptionally week. 

Services, are now signaling recession as well. 

For discussion, please see Recession Evidence Piles Up with S&P PMI Services Leading the Way

This post originated at MishTalk.Com

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JRM
JRM
3 years ago
I’m betting they are waiting for the Democats and Biden to hand them money to bail them out!!!!
Karlmarx
Karlmarx
3 years ago
I always think of the durable goods report as a Boeing report – its wildly volatile and not of much use particularly
JackWebb
JackWebb
3 years ago
Reply to  Karlmarx
I wonder about that. It’s an indicator I never followed. Mish, how lumpy is it?
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
3 years ago
POTUS announcing student debt cancellation today. Deferment extended “one final time” December 31st.
On ZH the video of a Dad confronting Senator Warren AWESOME.
KidHorn
KidHorn
3 years ago
Reply to  Tony Bennett
As expected. Dems are desperate not to lose in mid terms. I think it will backfire on them.
MPO45
MPO45
3 years ago
What happened in 2014 to cause those spikes? And looking at the peak in 2007 it looks like it lead to a crash and bottom into 2009 which confirms my thesis that if we are at peak levels now and it takes two years to bottom then we’re in for 2 years of doldrums.
I guess I’ll hide out in i-bonds until late 2024.
KidHorn
KidHorn
3 years ago
Noticed that pickup trucks are starting to get cash back offers again instead of dealer markups. I guess the chip shortage is over.
JRM
JRM
3 years ago
Reply to  KidHorn
I few weeks ago there was another story that car manufacturers were still rolling out new vehicles without all the upgrades, ie chip required parts!!!
JackWebb
JackWebb
3 years ago
Reply to  KidHorn
One of my neighbors ordered a truck a month and a half ago. Delivery in December.
jiminy
jiminy
3 years ago
Reply to  JackWebb
I just toured the Dearborn Ford 150 plant. They said 6-8 months wait for new vehicles.

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