New orders for manufactured durable goods increased $1.9 billion or 0.7% in April to $284.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau said in its most recent advance report. The increase followed a 0.8% March increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4%. Excluding defense, new orders were virtually unchanged. Transportation equipment led the increase, $1.1 billion or 1.2% to $96.2 billion.
Former comptrollers warn against state erosion of federal banking powers
States are increasingly seeking to regulate activities that have historically fallen within the domain of federal supervision, and that threatens the regulatory clarity the nation's dual banking system has long provided, two former comptrollers of the currency write...









