Helped by a 10 percent increase in aircraft demand, U.S. durable goods orders up 4.6 percent in December

New orders for manufactured durable goods in December increased $10.0 billion or 4.6 percent to $230.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up seven of the last eight months, followed a 0.7 percent November increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.3 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.2 percent.

Transportation equipment, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, had the largest increase, $8.1 billion or 11.9 percent to $75.9 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in December increased $2.7 billion or 3.8 percent to $73.8 billion. Shipments increased $0.5 billion or 0.7 percent to $71.9 billion. Unfilled orders increased $1.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $585.7 billion. Inventories decreased $0.6 billion or 0.3 percent to $173.0 billion.

The complete report can be found here .