New orders for manufactured durable goods in October decreased $2.8 billion or 1.2 percent to $236.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down following two consecutive monthly increases, followed a 2.2 percent September increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.8 percent. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $3.5 billion or 4.3 percent to $77.1 billion. Shipments of manufactured durable goods in October, up five of the last six months, increased $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent to $241.0 billion. This followed a 1.0 percent September increase. Primary metals, up three of the last four months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 1.5 percent to $19.9 billion.