HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PRELIMINARY REPORT ON MANUFACTURERS' SHIPMENTS, INVENTORIES, AND ORDERS

July 2008 --------------- Released 10:00 A.M. EDT September 3, 2008
(M3-2(08)-07)
Note: All figures in text are in seasonally adjusted current dollars
For Data - (301) 763-4673
For Questions - Chris Savage or Jessica Young
(301) 763-4832

Summary

New orders for manufactured goods in July, up five consecutive months, increased $5.9 billion or 1.3 percent to $465.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This was at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 2.1 percent June increase. Shipments, up six of the last seven months, increased $9.4 billion or 2.1 percent to $465.3 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.9 percent June increase. Unfilled orders, up twenty-nine of the last thirty months, increased $6.0 billion or 0.7 percent to $824.1 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.0 percent June increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 5.20, down from 5.30 in June. Inventories, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $2.6 billion or 0.5 percent to $558.2 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.2 percent June increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.20, down from 1.22 in June.

New Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in July, up three consecutive months, increased $2.9 billion or 1.3 percent to $219.6 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 1.4 percent June increase.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $2.9 billion or 1.2 percent to $245.9 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in July, up three of the last four months, increased $6.5 billion or 3.0 percent to $219.4 billion, revised from the previously published 2.5 percent increase. This followed a 0.9 percent June increase.

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up five consecutive months, increased $2.9 billion or 1.2 percent to $245.9 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 2.8 percent June increase. This increase was led by food products, which increased $1.1 billion or 2.2 percent to $52.5 billion. Food products were also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in July, up twenty-nine of the last thirty months, increased $6.0 billion or 0.7 percent to $824.1 billion, revised from the previously published 0.8 percent increase. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.0 percent June increase.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in July, up twelve of the last thirteen months, increased $2.7 billion or 0.8 percent to $335.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.8 percent June increase.

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased slightly to $222.4 billion. This followed a 1.9 percent June increase. Petroleum and coal products drove the decrease, down $0.7 billion or 1.6 percent to $43.3 billion.

By stage of fabrication, July materials and supplies increased 1.4 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.4 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.8 percent in durable goods and 2.7 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased slightly in durable goods and decreased 0.9 percent in nondurable goods.

Released September 3, 2008. Note: All figures in text are in seasonally adjusted current dollars. The advance report on durable goods for August is scheduled for September 25, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. and the full report on October 2, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

Our internet address is: http://www.census.gov/m3