New orders for manufactured durable goods in January decreased $8.6 billion or 4% to $206.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced in its advance report. This decrease, down following three consecutive monthly increases, followed a 3.2% December increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 3.2%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 4.5%.

Transportation equipment, down following two consecutive monthly increases, had the largest decrease, $3.6 billion or 6.1% to $55.2 billion. This was due to non-defense aircraft and parts, which decreased $3.8 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in January, up two consecutive months, increased $0.8 billion or 0.4% to $207.8 billion. This followed a 1.9%
December increase.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in January, up 21 of the last 22 months, increased $4.8 billion or 0.5% to $917.1 billion. This followed a 1.5% December increase.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in January, up 25 consecutive months, increased $2.6 billion or 0.7% to $372.5 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.3% December increase.

Machinery, up 22 consecutive months, had the largest increase, $0.9 billion or 1.4% to $61.4 billion.

To read the full advance report news release, click here.