New orders for manufactured durable goods in April, up two consecutive months, increased $3.1 billion or 1.1% to $283.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This followed a 3.3% March increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.2%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.6%. Transportation equipment, also up two consecutive months, drove the increase, $3.5 billion or 3.7% to $97.6 billion. (full story)