The monthly report said new orders for manufactured durable goods -- products expected to last more than three years -- dropped to $1.61.2 billion.
Economists had expected a 1.4 percent drop.
Shipments of durable goods, down eight consecutive months, continued the trend, dropping 1.7 percent to $175 billion. Unfilled orders, down for six consecutive months, fell 1.4 percent to $760.3 billion, Commerce said.
As manufacturers adjust to slower demand, warehouses' inventories fell 1.1 percent to $331.6 billion following a 1.3 percent drop in February, Commerce said.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
Post new comment