New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 1.2% in December to $254.4 billion, following a 1.0% November rise, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Transportation equipment drove the increase, growing 3.3% to $90.2 billion over the month. December’s pace was the fastest since June.
New orders excluding defense grew 1.8% on the month, while orders of nondefense capital goods increased 3.7% to $77.8 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods, rose 0.8% to $259.7 billion. This followed a 1.0% increase in November.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods continued to rise, growing 0.2% to $414.7 billion. This followed a 0.4% November increase and led to growth in twenty five of the last twenty six months.
Read the Census release.