New orders for manufactured durable goods in December decreased $1.0 billion or 0.4 percent to $227.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down two consecutive months, followed a 4.8 percent November decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.7 percent. Transportation equipment, also down two consecutive months, drove the decrease, $1.7 billion or 2.2 percent to $73.7 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in December increased $2.4 billion or 3.8 percent to $66.6 billion. Shipments increased $1.2 billion or 1.8 percent to $71.7 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $5.1 billion or 0.7 percent to $691.8 billion. Inventories increased $0.6 billion or 0.3 percent to $171.1 billion.