New Orders for Factory Goods Fell 1.2% in April

June 02, 2011

New orders for manufactured goods decreased 1.2% in April to a seasonally adjusted $440.4 billion, down from an upwardly revised to $445.8 billion in March, the Commerce Department said today. That was a 3.8% increase over February.Excluding the more volatile transportation sector, which was down 9.3% in the month, new orders fell 0.2%.Shipments fell 0.2% from March to $444.5 billion, ending a streak of increases 7 months long.Unfilled orders grew for the 12th month out of the last 13, increasing 0.3% to $850.7 billion.Inventories, up 18 of the last 19 months, were up 1.3% from March to $587.8 billion.New orders for durable goods fell 3.6% from the month prior to $190.3 billion, while new orders for nondurable goods increased 0.6% to $250.1 billion.