Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.8 percent.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in October, up five of the last six months, increased $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent to $241.0 billion. This followed a 1.0 percent September increase. Primary metals, up three of the last four months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 1.5 percent to $19.9 billion.
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in October, down three of the last four months, decreased $0.5 billion or virtually unchanged to $1,134.6 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent September increase. Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, $2.0 billion or 0.3 percent to $769.7 billion.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in October, up fifteen of the last sixteen months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.1 percent to $404.1 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent September increase. Primary metals, also up fifteen of the last sixteen months, led the increase, $0.1 billion or 0.4 percent to $33.9 billion.
Nondefense new orders for capital goods in October decreased $3.4 billion or 4.5 percent to $72.3 billion. Shipments decreased $1.4 billion or 1.9 percent to $72.4 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $705.2 billion. Inventories increased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $179.7 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in October decreased $1.1 billion or 9.6 percent to $9.9 billion. Shipments increased $0.3 billion or 2.4 percent to $10.9 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $0.9 billion or 0.7 percent to $142.3 billion. Inventories increased $0.2 billion or 1.0 percent to $23.6 billion.