New orders for manufactured durable goods in March increased $1.6 billion or 0.7% to $238.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up three consecutive months, followed a 2.3% February increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.2%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 0.1%. Transportation equipment, also up three consecutive months, drove the increase, $2.0 billion or 2.4% to $83.3 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, up four of the last five months, increased $0.6 billion or 0.2% to $239.8 billion. This followed a 0.2% February increase. Transportation equipment, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $0.4 billion or 0.5% to $81.7 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up two consecutive months, increased $2.5 billion or 0.2% to $1,119.0 billion. This followed a 0.1% February increase. Transportation equipment, also up two consecutive months, led the increase, $1.6 billion or 0.2% to $755.5 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, up four of the last five months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.1% to $385.7 billion. This followed a 0.2% February increase. Machinery, also up four of the last five months, led the increase, $0.4 billion or 0.6% to $66.7 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in March increased $0.9 billion or 1.2% to $75.0 billion. Shipments increased $0.9 billion or 1.3% to $73.0 billion. Unfilled orders increased $2.0 billion or 0.3% to $693.4 billion. Inventories increased $0.8 billion or 0.4% to $171.7 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in March increased $1.1 billion or 12.2% to $10.4 billion. Shipments decreased $0.5 billion or 4.0% to $10.9 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $0.6 billion or 0.4% to $137.3 billion. Inventories decreased $0.3 billion or 1.3% to $21.1 billion.