Computer Orders Rise In NovemberComputer Orders Rise In November

If there's been one consistent trait of the IT economy the past few years, it's inconsistency. The latest durable goods report, released Thursday from the Commerce Department, was no different.

The value of new orders for computers and related products expected to be used for at least three years rose a seasonally adjusted 4.1% in November, following a 9.8% falloff in October and a 17.4% gain in September. Over the past 12 months, computer orders rose 11.9%. However, last month the value of shipments of computer wares fell 3.8%, after rising 8.5% and 2.8% the previous two months. Year-to-year, computer shipments rose 13.2%.

Inventories of computer goods rose 2.2% last month, and 11.8% for the past year. Higher inventories suggest that vendors aren't moving product quickly. The value of computer inventories was 11.8% higher in November than it was a year earlier. Backlog in computer orders fell by 3.8% in November. But that follows increases in unfilled orders of 8.5% and 2.8% for the previous two months.

The November figures are advance estimates; October figures are revised from earlier reports.