WASHINGTON, DC , July 2, 2009 (Press Release) - New orders for manufactured goods in May, up three of the last four months, increased $4.1 billion or 1.2% to $347.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.5% April increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.8%. Shipments, down ten consecutive months, decreased $3.1 billion or 0.9% to $353.3 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.5% April decrease. Unfilled orders, down eight consecutive months, decreased $1.8 billion or 0.2% to $747.3 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since November 2001-July 2002. This followed a 1.1% April decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.15, up from 6.04 in April. Inventories, down nine consecutive months, decreased $3.2 billion or 0.6% to $513.3 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since March 2003-January 2004 and followed a 1.2% April decrease. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.45, unchanged from April.
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