New orders for manufactured durable goods in December increased $6.2 billion or 3% to $214.5 billion, the Commerce Department reported in its advance report. This increase, up five of the last six months, followed a 4.3% November increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 2.1%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.5%.

Transportation equipment, up two consecutive months, had the largest increase, $3 billion, or 5.5%, to $58.4 billion. This was due to non-defense aircraft and parts, which increased $3.1 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, up two of the last three months, increased $4.3 billion, or 2.1%, to $207.3 billion. This followed a 0.3% November decrease.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in December, up 20 of the last 21 months, increased $13.1 billion, or 1.5%, to $912.3 billion. This followed a 1.4% November increase. Transportation equipment, up 11 of the last 12 months, had the largest increase, $10.6 billion, or 2.1%, to $529.7 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in December, up 24 consecutive months, increased $1.2 billion, or 0.3%, to $370.1 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis and followed a 0.6% November increase. Transportation equipment, also up 24 consecutive months, had the largest increase, $1.7 billion, or 1.5%, to $116.4 billion.

Non-defense new orders for capital goods in December increased $4.6 billion, or 5.8%, to $84.4 billion.

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