New orders for manufactured goods in August, up two consecutive months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.1 percent to $663.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.8 percent July increase. Shipments, down following eight consecutive monthly increases, decreased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $658.6 billion. This followed a 0.8 percent July increase. Unfilled orders, up twenty-five of the last twenty-six months, increased $9.9 billion or 0.6 percent to $1,609.6 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent July increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.87, up from 6.81 in July. Inventories, up eleven consecutive months, increased $5.1 billion or 0.5 percent to $972.4 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent July increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.48, up from 1.47 in July.