New orders for manufactured durable goods in May decreased $5.3 billion, or 2.2%, to $230.7 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This decrease, down following two consecutive monthly increases, followed a 3.3% April increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.3%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.9%. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, falling $4.8 billion, or 5.6%, to $81.9 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in May, down three of the last four months, decreased $0.5 billion, or 0.2%, to $231.7 billion. This followed a 0.4% April increase. Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, led the decrease, dropping $0.4 billion, or 0.5%, to $80.0 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in May, up four of the last five months, increased $2.0 billion, or 0.2%, to $1.1 trillion. This followed a 0.6% April increase. Transportation equipment, up three consecutive months, led the increase, rising 0.2% to $785.2 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in May, down 10 of the last 11 months, decreased 0.3% to $382.5 billion. This followed a 0.4% April decrease. Machinery, down nine of the last 10 months, led the decrease, falling 0.8% to $65.4 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in May decreased 0.8% to $73.8 billion.