New orders for manufactured durable goods in December decreased $1.0 billion or 0.4% to $227.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. It was the second-straight month in which a decrease was reported, following a 4.8% November slump. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.7%. Transportation equipment, also down two consecutive months, drove the decrease, $1.7 billion or 2.2% to $73.7 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, up three of the last four months, increased $3.3 billion or 1.4% to $238.0 billion. This followed a 0.3% November increase. Transportation equipment, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $2.0 billion or 2.5% to $82.3 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in December, down six of the last seven months, decreased $7.2 billion or 0.6%t to $1,119.4 billion. This followed a 0.3% November decrease. Transportation equipment, also down six of the last seven months, drove the decrease, $8.6 billion or 1.1% to $759.8 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in December, up five of the last six months, increased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $384.4 billion. This followed a 0.2% November increase. Machinery, up four of the last five months, drove the increase, $0.4 billion or 0.5% to $66.4 billion.

Non-defense new orders for capital goods in December increased $2.4 billion or 3.8% to $66.6 billion. Shipments increased $1.2 billion or 1.8% to $71.7 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $5.1 billion or 0.7% to $691.8 billion. Inventories increased $0.6 billion or 0.3% to $171.1 billion.