August U.S. Durable Goods Orders were Flat

U.S. monthly manufactured durable goods orders increased $0.1 billion or were virtually unchanged in August from July, according to an advance report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Released Sept. 26, the report showed that August orders increased to a total of $289.7 billion. This follows a July increase of 9.9%.

Year-over-year, total durable goods orders were also virtually unchanged.

The August increase was driven by electrical equipment, appliances and components — up two of the last three months — which was up 1.9% vs July. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.3% compared to July.

Capital goods orders decreased 0.4% month-to-month.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods decreased 0.5% in August vs July, following a 1.1% increase.

August’s unfilled orders for durable goods increased 0.4%, following a 0.2% increase in July. This followed a 1.4% decrease in June.

August’s inventories of durable goods increased 0.1%, following a 0.1% increase in July.

Here is how monthly new orders and shipments of different durable goods product categories fared in August, seasonally adjusted, according to the Census Bureau’s advance data:

Primary Metals

• Shipments: -0.5%
• New Orders: +0.2%

Fabricated Metal Products

• Shipments: +0.3%
• New Orders: +0.6%

Machinery

• Shipments: +0.5%
• New Orders: +0.5%

Computers and Electronic Products

• Shipments: -0.2%
• New Orders: -+0.4%

Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components

• Shipments: +0.5%
• New Orders: +1.9%

Transportation Equipment

• Shipments: +3.6%
• New Orders: +34.8%

All Other Durable Goods

• Shipments: +0.3%
• New Orders: +0.2%

Capital Goods

• Shipments: -1.6%
• New Orders: -0.4%