Durable goods orders up 1.9 percent in April

New orders for manufactured durable goods increased $3.7 billion or 1.9 percent to $200.3 billion in April, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This followed a 1.6 percent March decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.2 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.3 percent.

Transportation equipment, up following four consecutive monthly decreases, had the largest increase, $4.0 billion or 8.2 percent to $53.1 billion. This was led by nondefense aircraft and parts, which increased $1.5 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, up six of the last seven months, increased $3.3 billion or 1.6 percent to $207.9 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent March increase.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, up 17 consecutive months, increased $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent to $291.8 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent March increase.

Fabricated metal products, up 15 consecutive months, had the largest increase, $0.3 billion or 0.9 percent to $37.3 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.9 percent March increase.