New orders for manufactured durable goods in December decreased $10.3 billion or 4.3 percent to $229.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down two of the last three months, followed a 2.6 percent November increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 1.6 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 3.7 percent.

Transportation equipment, also down two of the last three months, led the decrease, $7.7 billion or 9.5 percent to $73.1 billion. This was led by nondefense aircraft and parts, which decreased $3.8 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, down following four consecutive monthly increases, decreased $4.5 billion or 1.9 percent to $232.8 billion. This followed a 1.3 percent November increase.

Transportation equipment, also down following four consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $4.1 billion or 5.7 percent to $68.3 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in December, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $3.9 billion or 0.4 percent to $1,061.5 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992, and followed a 0.9 percent November increase.

Transportation equipment, up four consecutive months, drove the increase, $4.8 billion or 0.7 percent to $659.1 billion.

To read the full December 2013 Advance Report on Durable Goods, click here.