WASHINGTON- After a 4.1 percent increase in March, new orders for manufactured goods rose 0.3 percent in April to $418 billion, according to a recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Shipments increased 0.8 percent to $412.7 billion. Unfilled orders were up 1.8 percent to $719.1 billion, its highest level since 1992. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was up 0.05 to 4.85.
Reaching its highest level since the series began, inventories rose 0.5 percent to $513.5 billion. The inventories-to-shipments ratio slipped to 1.24 in April from 1.25 in March.
After rising 5.1 percent in March, new orders for manufactured durable goods rose 0.8 percent to $218.5 billion in April. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased 0.2 percent to $199.6 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods rose for the third consecutive month, edging up 1.9 percent to $213.2 billion.
Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods also continued its trend, decreasing for the third month to $199.6 billion. A 4.5 percent decrease in petroleum and coal products was the main factor behind the dip in nondurable goods shipments.
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods rose 1.8 percent to $719.1 billion, its highest level since the series began.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods increased 0.5 percent to $312.8 billion, also at its highest level since the series began.
Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods were up 0.5 percent to $200.7 billion, due to a 1.9 percent rise in petroleum and coal products.
Materials and supplies were up 0.7 percent in durable goods and 0.8 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process was up 0.8 percent in durable goods and down 0.2 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods were down 0.2 percent in durable goods and up 0.5 percent in nondurable goods.
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