The U.S. Census Bureau reported that new orders for manufactured durable goods in February increased $3.9 billion, or 1.7%, to $235.4 billion. This increase, up two consecutive months, followed a 2.3% January increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.1%. Transportation equipment, also up two consecutive months, led the increase, $3.3 billion, or 4.3%, to $80.4 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, up three of the last four months, increased $0.6 billion or 0.3% to $239.2 billion. This followed a 0.1% January decrease. Machinery, also up three of the last four months, led the increase, $0.3 billion, or 0.9%, to $31.1 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, down eight of the last nine months, decreased $0.2 billion to $1,114.7 billion. This followed a 0.3% January decrease. Transportation equipment, also down eight of the last nine months, drove the decrease, $1.1 billion to $752.7 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up three of the last four months, increased $0.8 billion, or 0.2%, to $385.1 billion. This followed a 0.1% January increase. Transportation equipment, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $0.2 billion, or 0.1%, to $122.9 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in February increased $2.9 billion, or 4.1%, to $72.9 billion. Shipments decreased less than $0.1 billion, or 0.1% to $72.1 billion. Unfilled orders increased $0.8 billion, or 0.1%, to $690.1 billion. Inventories increased $0.4 billion, or 0.2%, to $171.0 billion.