New orders for manufactured goods in March, up following seven consecutive monthly decreases,
increased $9.6 billion or 2.1 percent to $476.5 billion, the US Census Bureau reported Monday. This followed a 0.1 percent February decrease.
Shipments, up two consecutive months, increased $2.3 billion or 0.5 percent to $482.2 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent February increase. Unfilled orders, up following three consecutive monthly decreases, increased $1.0 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,157.3 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent February decrease.
The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.67, down from 6.70 in February. Inventories, down three of the last four months, decreased $1.1 billion or 0.2 percent to $649.1 billion. This followed a $0.2 billion, or virtually unchanged, February increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from February.