New orders for manufactured durable goods in April increased $1.3 billion or 0.6% to $217.9 billion the U.S. Census Bureau announced June 4. This was the fifth increase in the last six months and followed a 5% March increase.
Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.5%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 0.6%.
Fabricated metal products had the largest increase, $1.0 billion or 3.8 % to $26.5 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April increased $4.0 billion or 1.9% to $213.1 billion. This followed a 1.3% March increase.
Computers and electronic products, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, had the largest increase, $2.5 billion or 7.9% to $34.0 billion.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, up fourteen consecutive months, increased $1.5 billion or 0.5% to $313.0 billion. This followed a 0.1% March increase. Transportation equipment, up seven of the last eight months, had the largest increase, $1.4 billion or 1.8% to $77.1 billion.
Nondefense new orders for capital goods in April decreased $0.6 billion or 0.8% to $77.6 billion. Shipments increased $0.6 billion or 0.9% to $65.5 billion.
Defense new orders for capital goods in April increased $0.1 billion or 0.8% to $7.7 billion. Shipments increased $0.1 billion or 0.8% to $8.1 billion.