On Jan. 4, in its second look at new orders for manufactured goods in November 2005, the U.S. Commerce Department reported a total of $407.7 billion, up 2.5% from October's figure and the highest monthly level in 13 years. New orders for manufactured goods increased 1.7% in October.
The latest report showed new orders for manufactured durables, products such as appliances, autos and airplanes, increased 4.4% in November to $223.1 billion, the same level the Commerce Department had previously reported. It was the highest monthly figure on record and followed a 3.1% increase in October, the department said. However, the gain was concentrated in civilian aircraft and not broad-based, although defense communications equipment, HVAC equipment and electrical equipment managed double-digit month-to-month increases.
New orders for nondurables increased four-tenths of a percentage point to $184.6 billion.
