Durable goods orders rose 5.7 percent in February, largely due to gains in transportation

New orders for manufactured durable goods in February increased $12.4 billion or 5.7 percent to $232.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up five of the last six months, followed a 3.8 percent January decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.5 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 4.5 percent.

Transportation equipment, up two of the last threemonths, drove the increase, $13.3 billion or 21.7 percentto $74.4 billion. This was led by nondefense aircraft andparts, which increased $9.0 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in February increased $7.4 billion or 10.0 percent to $80.8 billion. This was the largest increase in five months. Shipments increased $0.1 billion or 0.2 percent to $70.8 billion. Unfilled orders increased $10.0 billion or 1.7 percent to $596.9 billion. Inventories increased $1.1 billion or 0.6 percent to $175.5 billion.

The complete report can be found here .