New orders for manufactured durable goods in December increased $5.7 billion or 2.4% to $245.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

This increase, up two of the last three months, followed a 3.1% November decrease.

Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.1%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 2.5%.

Transportation equipment, up following three consecutive monthly decreases, drove the increase, $5.9 billion or 7.6% to $82.9 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, down six consecutive months, decreased $0.5 billion or 0.2% to $250.4 billion.

This followed a 0.1% November decrease.

Transportation equipment, also down six consecutive months, led the decrease, $0.4 billion or 0.4% to $83.2 billion.