WASHINGTON -- New orders for manufactured goods rose in September for the fifth time in six months, increasing 0.9%
to $356.1 billion, the US Census Bureau reported today. Durables orders were up 1.4% sequentially.

This reverses a 0.8% August decrease.

Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.8%.

Shipments, up three of the last four months, increased 0.8% to $363.1 billion.

Unfilled orders, down twelve consecutive months, decreased 0.4% to $733.3 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly
decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992.

Inventories fell 1% to $492.6 billion. Inventories have been down 13 consecutive months, the longest streak since February 2001-May 2002.

New orders for manufactured durable goods rose 1.4% to $166.2 billion, revised from the previously published 1% increase. This
followed a 2.7 percent August decrease. Nondurables were up 0.6%.

Shipments of durables rose 1.1% to $173.2 billion, revised from the previously published 0.8% increase. Shipments of nondurables rose 0.6%
to $189.9 billion, led by chemical products, which increased $1.1 percent to $50.9 billion.

Inventories of durables fell 1%, while inventories of nondurables were down 0.9% to $187.7 billion.

By stage of fabrication, September materials and supplies decreased 0.7% in durable goods and 0.7% in nondurable goods. Work in process decreased
1.1% in durables and 0.3% in nondurables. Finished goods decreased 1.4% in durables and 1.2% in nondurable goods.