Recent Updates
- US: Consumer Sentiment (Feb-final), Chicago PMI (Feb),Personal Income, Adv Trade & Inventories (Jan)
- US: Consumer Sentiment Detail (Feb-final)
- Canada: Industrial Product Prices (Jan)
- UK: Motor Vehicle Production (Jan)
- more updates...
Economy in Brief
Chicago Business Barometer Declines Sharply in February
The ISM-Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer fell 4.3 points in February to 59.5...
Goods Trade Deficit Widened Slightly in January
The advance estimate of the U.S. trade deficit in goods widened slightly to $83.74 billion in January..
Japan's Industrial Sector Mounts a Comeback
Japan's IP surged in January gaining 4.3% compared to December...
Aircraft Orders Boost U.S. Durable Goods Orders in January
Manufacturers' orders for durable goods increased a much larger-than-expected 3.4% m/m (4.5% y/y) in January...
Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index Increases Again in February
The Kansas City Fed reported that its manufacturing sector business activity index rose to 24 in February...
Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
by Tom Moeller March 31, 2005
Factory inventories added 0.5% in February to the prior month's 1.5% spurt. Less petroleum inventories which fell 0.4% (16.7% y/y) the total increased 0.6% (8.3% y/y).
Factory shipments fell 0.9% in part reflecting a 2.9% drop in transportation equipment (-5.1% y/y). Less transportation shipments fell 0.6% (+13.3% y/y).
Orders to the factory sector rose 0.2%. The advance report of a 0.3% rise in durable goods was revised to 0.5% (+7.8% y/y). Nondefense capital goods orders less aircraft fell 1.7% (14.2% y/y).
Unfilled orders jumped 0.6%. The ratio of unfilled orders to shipments for durables recovered most of the prior two months' declines.
| Factory Survey (NAICS) | Feb | Jan | Y/Y | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inventories | 0.5% | 1.5% | 8.6% | 7.5% | -1.3% | -1.8% |
| New Orders | 0.2% | -0.0% | 10.0% | 10.9% | 3.7% | -1.9% |
| Shipments | -0.9% | 1.1% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 2.6% | -2.0% |
| Unfilled Orders | 0.6% | -0.0% | 8.8% | 9.1% | 4.2% | -6.1% |
