New orders for manufactured durable goods in April increased $1.9 billion or 0.8 percent to $239.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up three consecutive months, followed a 3.6 percent March increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.1 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.8 percent.

Transportation equipment, also up three consecutive months, led the increase, $1.7 billion or 2.3 percent to $76.9 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $237.2 billion. This followed a 1.3 percent March increase.

Transportation equipment, down following three consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $0.7 billion or 1.0 percent to $69.5 billion.