Hey Big Spender: Discretionary Durable Goods Orders March 2011

Today’s Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders report indicated that total new orders increased 2.5% from February to $208,372 billion while excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.3% to $153,680 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 February (less timely data), "discretionary" durable goods orders increased 0.93% since January climbing 11.39% above the level seen in February 2010.

Hey Big Spender: Discretionary Durable Goods Orders February 2011

Today’s Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders report indicated that total new orders declined 0.9% from January to $199,993 billion while excluding transportation, new orders declined 0.6% to $149,821 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 release, "discretionary" durable goods orders declined 0.78% since January but still remaining 9.42% above the level seen in February 2010.

Hey Big Spender: Discretionary Durable Goods Orders January 2011

Today’s Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders report indicated that total new orders increased 2.7% from December to $200.5 billion while excluding transportation, new orders declined 3.6% to $150,092 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 release, "discretionary" durable goods orders declined 2.02% since December but still remaining 9.03% above the level seen in January 2010.

Hey Big Spender: Discretionary Durable Goods Orders October 2010

Today’s Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders report indicated that total new orders declined 3.3% from September to $196.045 billion while excluding transportation new orders decreased 2.7% to $143.781 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 release, "discretionary" durable goods orders continues to slow declining 1.94% since September but still remaining 8.81% above the level seen in October 2009.

Though the trends in discretionary new orders still remain positive on the year, the recent slowing trend warrants tracking this measure closely in coming months.

Hey Big Spender: Discretionary Durable Goods Orders September 2010

Today’s Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders report indicated that total new orders increased 6.3% from August to $199.2 billion while excluding transportation new orders decreased 0.8% to $144.384 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 release, discretionary durable goods orders continues to slow declining 0.76% since August but still remaining 8.56% above the level seen in September 2009.

Though the trends in discretionary new orders still remain positive on the year, the recent slowing trend warrants tracking this measure closely in coming months.

Hey Big Spender: Discretionary Durable Goods Orders August 2010

Today’s Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders report indicated that total new orders declined 1.3% from July to $191.2 billion while excluding transportation new orders increased 2.0% to $148.422 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 August release, discretionary durable goods orders appears to have slowed notably compared to earlier in the year increasing just 0.80% since July and 11.84% above the level seen in August 2009.

Though the trends in discretionary new orders still remain positive, the recent slowing trend warrants tracking this measure closely in coming months.