New orders for manufactured goods in December, down two of the last three months, decreased $4.3 billion or 0.7 percent to $617.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 2.7 percent November increase. Shipments, up two of the last three months, increased $3.1 billion or 0.5 percent to $609.2 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent November decrease. Unfilled orders, up seventeen of the last eighteen months, increased $13.4 billion or 0.9 percent to $1,527.5 billion. This followed a 1.4 percent November increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 7.01, down from 7.04 in November. Inventories, up three consecutive months, increased $1.0 billion or 0.1 percent to $949.6 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent November increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.56, down from 1.57 in November.