New orders for manufactured durable goods increased $8.7 billion or 3.1% in January to $286 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau said in its most recent advance report. The increase followed a 1.8% decrease in December. Excluding transportation, new orders were virtually unchanged. Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.5%. Transportation equipment led the increase, $8.6 billion or 9.8% to $96.5 billion.
Beige Book: Economic activity ticked up in May, June
Economic activity increased at a slight to moderate pace in eleven of twelve Federal Reserve districts in late May and June, while one district reported no change, the Fed said in its fifth Beige Book report of the...









