Advance Report on Durable Goods Shipments, Inventories and Orders: January 2016

Today, the U.S. Census Department released its advanced monthly Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders Report for January showing new orders for durable goods improved notably rising 4.9% from December and rising 1.75% above the level seen in January 2015.

Much of the strength came from the sub-components of new orders of non-defense aircraft parts (up 54.42) and communications equipment (up 9.6%).

Advance Report on Durable Goods Shipments, Inventories and Orders: December 2015

Today, the U.S. Census Department released its advanced monthly Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders Report for December showing new orders for durable goods declining a notable 5.1% from November and falling -0.58% below the level seen in December 2014.

Much of the weakness came from the sub-components of new orders of non-defense aircraft parts (down 29.4%), communications equipment (down 20.5%), capital goods (down 18%), transportation equipment (down 12.4%), machinery (down 5.6%),

Hey Big Spender: Discretionary Durable Goods Orders April 2011

Today’s Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders report indicated that total new orders for manufactured durable goods declined 3.6% from March to $189.9 billion while excluding transportation, new orders declined 1.5% to $143,175 billion.

Stripping durable goods orders of defense orders AND non-defense aircraft orders yields an effective measure of orders coming as a direct result of typical discretionary consumer durable goods spending on items such as motor vehicles, furniture, consumer electronic devices and home appliances.

Looking at the latest data for March (less timely data), "discretionary" durable goods orders increased notably jumping 3.72% since February climbing 10.91% above the level seen in March 2010.