Biggest Decline in US Factory Orders in March Since 1957

US factory orders posted a major decline in March, but yesterday's ISM manufacturing figures foretold that already

US factory orders fall to the lowest since 1957

As coronavirus spread in the US and the country went into house arrest in March, the economic numbers started diving lower one after the other. Services have been hit the hardest since everyone is staying inside, but other businesses as well, apart from vital ones.

ISM manufacturing fell only slightly in contraction in March, but I suppose businesses knew what was coming, so they cancelled orders in March, that were supposed to be delivered in April or May. For April, US ISM manufacturing fell deeper in contraction at around 40 points, so the orders for March show that. Below is the factory orders report:

Factory Orders Report March 2020:

  • March factory orders -10.3% vs -9.4% expected
  • Factory orders in February stood at 0.0%, revised to -0.1%
  • Factory orders ex transport -3.7% vs -0.9% prior

Durable goods revisions:

  • Durable good orders -14.7% vs 14.4% exp (prelim -14.4%)
  • Lowest figure (since 1992)
  • Excluding transport -0.4% vs -0.2% expected
  • Capital goods orders non-defense ex-air -0.1% vs +0.1% expected
  • Capital goods shipments non-defense ex-air -0.2% vs -0.2% prelim

What’s interesting here is how hard transport was hit and how the first wave of pain was almost entirely focused on that part of the economy. Will it stay that way or is it just going to unfold in slow motion elsewhere? Let’s see, because no one can tell how things will go right now.

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Skerdian Meta
Lead Analyst
Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst. Skerdian is a professional Forex trader and a market analyst. He has been actively engaged in market analysis for the past 11 years. Before becoming our head analyst, Skerdian served as a trader and market analyst in Saxo Bank's local branch, Aksioner. Skerdian specialized in experimenting with developing models and hands-on trading. Skerdian has a masters degree in finance and investment.

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