U.S. manufacturing inventories down as orders remain slow

U.S. manufacturing inventories down as orders remain slow    New orders for manufactured goods in November decreased $4.9 billion, or 1.4 percent, to $337 billion, the U.S. Department of Commerce said. The decreased follows a 2.4 percent increase in October. Shipments increased for the seventh month in a row, led by durable goods, which were up $40 million, or 0.2 percent, to $184.2 billion. Shipments of non-durable manufactured goods decreased $30 million, to $155.7 billion. Basic chemical shipments had the largest decrease, $300 million, or 0.8 percent, to $39.4 billion.
   Inventories of manufactured durable goods, down 32 of the last 34 months, decreased $600 million, to $261.7 billion. Automobiles and other transportation equipment had the largest decrease, $60 million, or 0.8 percent, to $67 billion, due to commercial aircraft and parts.