Industrial Demand

Value of manufacturers’ new orders; not seasonally adjusted; $ in million

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

In February 2017, new orders for all manufacturing industries increased by 2 percent, or $8.9 billion, compared to February 2016. The most significant changes came from nondurable goods, up 4.8 percent, followed closely by machinery, with an increase of 4.7 percent. Year-over-year, new orders decreased for three industries: electrical equipment, appliances and components, which fell $7 billion or 0.1 percent; durable goods industries, down by 0.7 percent; and transportation equipment, which fell $5.2 billion, or 5.7 percent. New orders in computers and electronic products rose 29.5 percent, or $6.6 billion, month-over-month in February, after decreasing 3.7 percent in January, and transportation equipment new orders increased month-over-month by 9.2 percent. Furniture and related products ranked among the bottom categories for month-over-month new orders (down 8 percent), along with primary metals (down 4.9 percent).