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Durable Goods New Orders Continue to Contract

May was the second lowest total for real durable goods new orders since July 2009 and was down 22.3% from one year ago.

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New orders for real durable goods totaled $186,870 million in May. This was the second lowest total since July 2009 and was down 22.3% from one year ago. May was the second fastest rate of month-over-month contraction since June 2009, and May was the third consecutive month of faster than 17% contraction.  

The result was that the annual rate of change contracted 9.1%, which was the fastest rate of annual contraction since April 2010. The sharp deceleration in growth in consumer durable goods spending in March through May means that durable goods new orders will continue to contract faster. 

It’s important to note that aerospace orders in May were negative, meaning that there were more cancellations than there were new orders for commercial aircraft, for the third month in a row.

Accelerating Growth: 

Decelerating Growth: appliances

Accelerating Contraction: computers/electronics, construction materials, durable goods, fabricated metal products, HVAC, machinery/equipment, motor vehicle/parts, off-road/construction machinery, ​​​​oil/gas-field/mining machinery, power generation, primary metals, ship/boat building

Decelerating Contraction: aerospace, total capital goods

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions