Durable Goods Orders Dive 3.7%

Aircraft had been leading durable goods orders; and, due to extremely long lead times, that’s not a sign of strength. But it was not just aircraft orders that took a hit in the Census Bureau Durable Goods Advance Report.

New Orders

• New orders for manufactured durable goods in January decreased $9.2 billion, or 3.7 percent, to $239.7 billion.
• Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.3 percent.
• Excluding defense, new orders decreased 2.7 percent.
• Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease; $8.6 billion, or 10.0 percent, to $77.7 billion.

Shipments

• Shipments of manufactured durable goods in January, up eight of the last nine months, increased $0.6 billion, or 0.2 percent, to $247.0 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent December increase.
• Transportation equipment, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $0.4 billion, or 0.5 percent, to $81.3 billion.

Unfilled Orders

• Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in January, down following four consecutive monthly increases, decreased $3.1 billion, or 0.3 percent, to $1,140.9 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent December increase.
• Transportation equipment, down three of the last four months, drove the decrease; $3.6 billion, or 0.5 percent, to $771.8 billion.

Inventories

• Inventories of manufactured durable goods in January, up eighteen of the last nineteen months, increased $1.3 billion, or 0.3 percent, to $408.5 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent December increase.
• Transportation equipment, up two consecutive months, led the increase, $0.7 billion, or 0.5 percent, to $131.9 billion.

Capital Goods

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in January decreased $1.2 billion, or 1.5 percent, to $73.6 billion.

Mike “Mish” Shedlock