U.S. durable goods orders up slightly in April; machinery inventories at highest level on record

New orders for manufactured durable goods in April increased $0.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $215.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up two of the last three months, followed a 3.7 percent March decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.6 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.2 percent.

Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, had the largest increase, $1.3 billion or 2.1 percent to $62.2 billion. This was due to motor vehicles and parts, which increased $2.3 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, up twenty-seven of the last twenty-eight months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.3 percent to $364.1 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.4 percent March increase.

Machinery, up twenty-five of the last twenty-six months, had the largest increase, $1.1 billion or 1.7 percent to $65.2 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in April decreased $0.1 billion or 0.2 percent to $70.0 billion. Shipments decreased $0.3 billion or 0.5 percent to $69.6 billion. Unfilled orders increased $0.4 billion or 0.1 percent to $584.5 billion. Inventories increased $1.3 billion or 0.8 percent to $166.3 billion.

The complete report can be found here .