New orders for manufactured goods in April, up five of the last six months, increased $30.1 billion or 4.8 percent to $662.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.8 percent March increase. Shipments, up six of the last seven months, increased $6.3 billion or 1.0 percent to $641.0 billion. This followed a 1.5 percent March increase. Unfilled orders, up twenty-one of the last twenty-two months, increased $26.8 billion or 1.7 percent to $1,569.0 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent March increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.95, up from 6.88 in March. Inventories, up seven consecutive months, increased $2.4 billion or 0.3 percent to $959.1 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent March increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.50, down from 1.51 in March.