The U.S. Census Bureau reported Sept. 5 that new orders for manufactured goods in July — down following four consecutive monthly increases — decreased $12.7 billion, or 2.1% month-over-month, to $579.4 billion. The July number followed a 2.3% increase in June.

Shipments, up three consecutive months, increased $2.9 billion, or 0.5%, to $577.2 billion. That followed a 0.2% June increase.

Unfilled orders, up seven of the last eight months, increased $7.2 billion, or 0.5%, to $1.332 trillion, following a 1.8% June increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.80, up from 6.74 in June.

Inventories, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $0.6 billion, or 0.1%, to $852.5 billion. This followed a 0.2% June decrease. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.48, unchanged from June, according to the bureau.