After four months of monthly increases, new orders for manufacturers fell in August, according to a new government report released today.

New orders were down 2.6 percent to $164.1 billion (down 2 of 3 months)

Shipments fell 1.4 percent to $171.3 billion (down after 2 monthly increases)

Unfilled orders fell 0.4 percent to $736.8 billion (unchanged after 11 monthly declines)

Inventories for durables fell 1.4 percent to $308.4 billion (down for 8 months)

Inventories for nondurables rise 0.3 percent to $189.9 billion (down after 11 monthly decreases)

Down