New orders for manufactured goods in March, up two consecutive months, increased $9.1 billion or 1.6 percent to $584.5 billion.
The nation's international trade deficit in goods and services decreased to $69.4 billion in March from $69.5 billion in February (revised), as imports decreased more than exports.
Total construction activity for March 2024 ($2,083.9 billion) was 0.2 percent (+/-0.8 percent)* below the revised February 2024 ($2,087.8 billion).
+6.6*
+6.4
The rental vacancy rate of 6.6 percent was not statistically different than the rate in the first quarter 2023 (6.4 percent). Compared to first quarter 2023, the rental vacancy rate was higher in the West and not statistically different in the Northeast, Midwest, and South.
+65.6*
+66.0
The homeownership rate of 65.6 percent was not statistically different from the rate in the first quarter 2023 (66.0 percent). The homeownership rates, compared to the first quarter 2023, were lower in the Midwest, and not statistically different in the Northeast, South, and West.
March end-of-month inventories were $896.2 billion, down 0.4 percent (+/- 0.2 percent) from last month.
The advance international trade deficit in goods increased to $91.8 billion in March from $90.3 billion in February as exports decreased more than imports.
+0.3
+0.5
March 2024 end-of-month inventories were $788.1 billion, up 0.3 percent (+/- 0.2%) from last month.
New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up two consecutive months, increased $7.3 billion or 2.6 percent to $283.4 billion.
Sales of new single-family houses in March 2024 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 693,000. This is 8.8 percent (+/- 17.2%)* above the revised February 2024 estimate of 637,000.
Privately-owned housing starts in March 2024 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,321,000. This is 14.7 percent (+/- 9.9%) below the revised February 2024 estimate of 1,549,000.
U.S. total business end-of-month inventories for February 2024 were $2,567.5 billion, up 0.4 percent (+/- 0.1 percent) from last month. U.S. total business sales were $1,866.5 billion, up 1.6 percent (+/- 0.2 percent) from last month.
+0.7
+0.9
U.S. retail and food services sales for March 2024 were $709.6 billion, up 0.7 percent (+/-0.5 percent) from the previous month.
Total U.S. Business Applications were 435,629 in March 2024, virtually unchanged from February 2024.
February 2024 sales of merchant wholesalers were $673.7 billion, up 2.3 percent (+/- 0.4 percent) from last month. End-of-month inventories were $901.1 billion, up 0.5 percent (+/- 0.4 percent) from last month.
-30.2
+23.2
Manufacturing corporations' seasonally adjusted after-tax profits were $194.8 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023, down $30.2 (+/- 1.5) billion from third quarter of 2023.
+4.4
-5.6
Seasonally adjusted after-tax profits for retail corporations with assets of $50 million and over were $48.3 billion for the fourth quarter 2023 (the 3 months ending January 31, 2024), up $4.4 (+/- 2.6) billion from third quarter 2023 (the 3 months ending October 31, 2023).
+1.9
+0.7
U.S. selected services total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023, adjusted for seasonal variation but not for price changes, was $5,398.9 billion, an increase of 1.9 percent (+/- 0.6 percent) from the third quarter of 2023 and up 6.6 percent (+/- 0.6 percent) from the fourth quarter of 2022.
