Unfilled orders rise for second consecutive month

Unfilled orders, driven by expansion in the aerospace products and parts industry,rose in May for the second straight month, Statistics Canada reports.

Unfilled orders were up 1.0% to $50.0 billion. The increase resulted from a 5.8% expansion in orders of the aerospace products and parts industry. Excluding aerospace, unfilled orders were off 2.3% in May. The machinery (-3.5%) and electrical equipment, appliances and components industries (-11.2%) led May’s retreat in orders. While the trend for unfilled orders had been declining since the latter half of 2000, it has levelled off since March 2001.

New orders rose 1.8% in May to $45.1 billion. Excluding the aerospace product and parts industry, new orders increased 2.0%.