Question
Are negative values appropriate in the "new orders" data from the U.S. Census?
Answer
Yes, this dataset can legitimately contain negative values, which represent net cancellations. The Census Bureau writes:
The primary reason is due to aircraft cancellations. When cancellations occur they can be large enough to create a negative amount of new orders for the month. This goes for any industry; however it is more noticeable in aircraft.
For example, values are negative for XNONAP.US (New Orders - Nondefense Aircraft and Parts) for February and April 2009.
Related Releases
Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3)