Factory orders for manufactured goods fall by $7.4 billion in April
The Commerce Department reported Friday that demand for manufactured goods dropped by $7.4 billion to $397.98 billion in April, a decline of 1.8 percent from the March level. This followed a 4.0 percent March increase. It was the largest decline since a 2.7 percent fall in factory orders in January.
New orders for manufactured durable goods in April decreased $9.6 billion or 4.4 percent to $209.9 billion. This followed a 6.0 percent March increase. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $2.2 billion or 1.2 percent to $188.1 billion.
Other Highlighs:
. Orders for commercial aircraft plunged by 29.1 percent
. Orders for military aircraft fell by 26.9 percent
. Demand for computers and other electronic products down 10.8 percent
. Orders for construction machinery fell by 2.5 percent
. Total orders for transportation products dropped by 11.7 percent
. Demand increased for motor vehicles and parts by 1.7 percent
. Orders for non-durable goods, products such as food, clothing, chemicals and petroleum products, rose 1.2 percent in April
