New orders for manufactured goods in May, down following four consecutive monthly increases, decreased $8.5 billion or 1.3 percent to $657.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 5.3 percent April increase. Shipments, up seven of the last eight months, increased $10.3 billion or 1.6 percent to $653.2 billion. This followed a 1.3 percent April increase. Unfilled orders, up twenty-two of the last twenty-three months, increased $9.2 billion or 0.6 percent to $1,579.5 billion. This followed a 1.8 percent April increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.91, down from 6.95 in April. Inventories, up eight consecutive months, increased $2.1 billion or 0.2 percent to $962.0 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent April increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.47, down from 1.49 in April.