New orders for US manufactured goods in January, up two consecutive months, increased $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent to $500.5 billion, the US Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.1 percent December increase.
Shipments, down four consecutive months, decreased $1.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $503.1 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent December decrease.
Unfilled orders, up following three consecutive monthly decreases, increased $1.4 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,181.9 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent December decrease. The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.57, up from 6.55 in December.
Inventories, up 26 of the last 27 months, increased $3.6 billion or 0.5 percent to $685.7 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent December increase. The inventories‐to‐shipments ratio was 1.36, up from 1.35 in December.