New orders for manufactured durable goods in January decreased $9.2 billion or 3.7 percent to $239.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down following two consecutive monthly increases, followed a 2.6 percent December increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.3 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 2.7 percent. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $8.6 billion or 10.0 percent to $77.7 billion. Shipments of manufactured durable goods in January, up eight of the last nine months, increased $0.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $247.0 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent December increase. Transportation equipment, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $0.4 billion or 0.5 percent to $81.3 billion.