The U.S. Census Bureau announced the May advance report on durable goods manufacturers’ shipments, inventories and orders.

New Orders 
New orders for manufactured durable goods in May, up five of the last six months, increased $48.3 billion or 16.4 percent to $343.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This followed a 6.6 percent April decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5 percent.  Excluding defense, new orders increased 15.5 percent. Transportation equipment, also up five of the last six months, led the increase, $47.4 billion or 48.3 percent to $145.4 billion. 

Shipments 
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in May, up six consecutive months, increased $0.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $301.0 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent April increase. Transportation equipment, up five of the last six months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 0.3 percent to $98.0 billion. 

Unfilled Orders 
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in May, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $47.6 billion or 3.4 percent to $1,455.3 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged April decrease. Transportation equipment, up three consecutive months, led the increase, $47.5 billion or 5.6 percent to $897.8 billion.

Inventories 
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in May, up eight consecutive months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.2 percent to $587.8 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent April increase. Machinery, up three consecutive months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 0.3 percent to $102.0 billion.

Capital Goods 
Nondefense new orders for capital goods in May increased $43.1 billion or 49.4 percent to $130.4 billion. Shipments decreased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $87.4 billion. Unfilled orders increased $43.0 billion or 5.3 percent to $858.4 billion. Inventories increased $0.5 billion or 0.2 percent to $249.9 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in May increased $5.3 billion or 38.7 percent to $19.0 billion. Shipments increased $0.4 billion or 2.7 percent to $14.3 billion. Unfilled orders increased $4.7 billion or 2.4 percent to $203.2 billion. Inventories increased $0.1 billion or 0.3 percent to $26.6 billion.