Durable goods orders jumped 4.5% in August. Excluding transportation, durable goods orders increased 0.1%.

The Census Department report on Advance Durable Goods shows orders rose 4.5% in August.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August increased $11.1 billion or 4.5 percent to $259.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up two of the last three months, followed a 1.2 percent July decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.1 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.6 percent. Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, led the increase, $10.9 billion or 13.0 percent to $95.3 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, up three of the last four months, increased $1.9 billion or 0.8 percent to $253.1 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent July decrease. Transportation equipment, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $1.6 billion or 1.9 percent to $86.0 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up nine of the last ten months, increased $10.4 billion or 0.9 percent to $1,176.5 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent July increase. Transportation equipment, up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $9.3 billion or 1.2 percent to $811.0 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, down following nineteen consecutive monthly increases, decreased $1.4 billion or 0.4 percent to $407.0 billion. This followed a 1.2 percent July increase. Transportation equipment, down two of the last three months, drove the decrease, $1.8 billion or 1.4 percent to $129.3 billion.

Capital Goods

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in August increased $5.7 billion or 7.6 percent to $81.3 billion. Shipments increased $2.2 billion or 3.0 percent to $77.3 billion. Unfilled orders increased $3.9 billion or 0.5 percent to $718.6 billion. Inventories decreased $1.3 billion or 0.8 percent to $177.4 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in August increased $4.9 billion or 44.4 percent to $16.0 billion. Shipments increased $0.1 billion or 1.2 percent to $11.6 billion. Unfilled orders increased $4.4 billion or 3.0 percent to $151.5 billion. Inventories decreased $0.2 billion or 0.8 percent to $22.6 billion.