New orders for manufactured goods in December 2011 were up 1.1% to USD 466.2 billion for the second month in a row. Shipments continued increasing for the seventh month, up 0.7% while unfilled orders, up 20 of the 21 past months, were up 1.4%.

Inventories were up 0.1% to USD 610.1 billion, reaching the highest level since the report began. The inventories to shipments ratio was down slightly to 1.33 in December 2011 while durable goods new orders increased. Transportation equipment reported the largest increase of 5.4%.

New orders for nondurable goods dropped 0.4% while shipments of durable goods in December 2011 increased 2.2%. Primary metals had the largest increase (+8.7%) while shipments of nondurable goods declined 0.4%. Petroleum and coal products drove the decrease as they were down 2.1%.

By stage of fabrication, the US Census Bureau report said that "December 2011 materials and supplies increased 0.8% in durable goods and decreased 0.4% in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.3% in durable goods and 0.4% in nondurable goods. Finished goods decreased 0.2% in durable goods and 0.5% in nondurable goods."

(Sourced from US Census Bureau)