After falling in April, the US Census Bureau announced Friday that new orders and shipments of manufactured goods recovered in May. New orders in May rose $3.6 billion or 1.9 percent from April to $195.6 million, following a 2.7 percent decrease in April. Transportation had the largest increase, rising $2.7 billion or 5.8 percent to $49.6 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods were up as well in May, rising $0.6 billion or 0.3 percent to $194.6 billion. While May's increase is marginal, it follows a 1.4 percent April decrease. Machinery shipments had the largest increase, and were up $0.5 billion or 2 percent to $28.3 billion.
Unfilled orders and inventories of manufactured goods also increased in May, rising 0.9 percent to $860.2 billion, and 1.2 percent to $355.4 billion, respectively, since April.