Advance: U.S. Durable Goods Orders Plunge in June

U.S. monthly manufactured durables goods orders decreased 6.6% in June from May, according to an advance report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Released July 25, the report showed that June orders decreased to a total of $264.5 billion. This follows four consecutive monthly increases of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.8% and 1.2% in the previous four quarters, respectively.

Year-over-year, total durable goods orders were also down 6.6%.

The June decrease was driven by transportation equipment, which was down 20.5% vs. May. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5%. Excluding defense, June’s new orders decreased 7.0% vs. May.

Capital goods orders decreased 22.4% month-to-month.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods increased 1.2% in June vs May, following a 0.3% decrease. Transportation led the gain, up 3.8%.

June’s unfilled orders for durable goods — up 46 consecutive months — decreased 1.3%, following a 0.2% gain in May. Transportation equipment led the decrease with a 2.1% drop.

June’s inventories of durable goods — down following two consecutive monthly increases — decreased 0.1% or are virtually unchanged, following May’s 0.3% increase. Transportation led the decrease with a 0.1% dip.

Here is how monthly new orders and shipment of different durable goods product categories fared in June, seasonally adjusted, according to Census Bureau‘s advance data:

Primary Metals

• Shipments: -0.2%
• New Orders: -0.1%

Fabricated Metal Products

• Shipments: +0.2%
• New Orders: +0.2%

Machinery

• Shipments: +0.2%
• New Orders: +1.6%

Computers and Electronic Products

• Shipments: -0.1%
• New Orders: +0.8%

Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components

• Shipments: -0.2%
• New Orders: +1.3%

Transportation Equipment

• Shipments: +3.8%
• New Orders: -20.5%

All Other Durable Goods

• Shipments: 0.0%
• New Orders: 0.0%

Capital Goods

• Shipments: +3.9%
• New Orders: -18.4%