According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s report on manufacturers’ shipments, inventories and orders, new orders for manufactured durable goods rose $4.0 billion, or 1.8%, to $230.4 billion in January. This increase, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, followed a 0.8% December decrease.

Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.2%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.5%. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, drove the increase, $4.3 billion, or 6.0%, to $76.4 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in January, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.2 billion, or 0.1%, to $238.3 billion. This followed a 1.6% December increase. Machinery, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $0.5 billion, or 1.6%, to $30.7 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in January, down seven of the last eight months, decreased $4.0 billion, or 0.4%, to roughly $1.1 trillion. This followed a 0.7% December decrease. Transportation equipment, also down seven of the last eight months, drove the decrease, $5.6 billion, or 0.7%, to $752.9 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in January, up two of the last three months, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $383.8 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent December decrease. Computers and electronic products, up three of the last four months, drove the increase, $0.2 billion, or 0.5%, to $42.7 billion.

Non-defense new orders for capital goods in January increased $2.4 billion, or 3.6%, to $69.0 billion.