New orders for manufactured durable goods in July increased $9.7 billion, or 4.4%, to $228.9 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This increase, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, followed a 4.2% June decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.5%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.8%. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $7.5 billion, or 10.5%, to $78.9 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in July, up three of the last four months, increased $0.4 billion, or 0.2%, to $232.9 billion. This followed a 0.5% June increase. Computers and electronic products, up four consecutive months, drove the increase, $0.4 billion, or 1.5%, to $27.1 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in July, down two consecutive months, decreased $0.8 billion, or 0.1%, to $1,126.6 billion. This followed a 0.9% June decrease. Transportation equipment, also down two consecutive months, drove the decrease, $1.9 billion, or 0.2%, to $772.2 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in July, up following six consecutive monthly decreases, increased $1.2 billion, or 0.3%, to $383.0 billion. This followed a 0.1% June decrease. Transportation equipment, up following five consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $0.5 billion, or 0.4%, to $123.7 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in July increased $6.6 billion, or 10.2%, to $71.6 billion. Shipments increased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $71.7 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $700.8 billion. Inventories decreased $0.3 billion, or 0.2%, to $169.1 billion.

Defense new orders for capital goods in July increased $2.5 billion, or 35.7%, to $9.6 billion. Shipments increased $0.1 billion, or 1.1%, to $10.3 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $0.8 billion, or 0.6%, to $136.0 billion. Inventories increased $0.8 billion, or 3.9%, to $21.1 billion.