New orders for manufactured durable goods in November increased $1.9 billion or 0.8% to $250.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, followed a 4.3% October decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.3%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.1%. Transportation equipment, up three of the last four months, drove the increase, $2.5 billion or 2.9% to $87.0 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in November, up three of the last four months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.7% to $256.7 billion. This followed a 0.4% October decrease. Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four months, led the increase, $1.8 billion or 2.0% to $89.5 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in November, down two consecutive months, decreased $1.7 billion, or 0.1%, to $1,181.7 billion. This followed a 0.2% October decrease. Transportation equipment, also down two consecutive months, drove the decrease, $2.5 billion, or 0.3%, to $812.4 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in November, up 22 of the last 23 months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.3% to $412.8 billion. This followed a 0.2% October increase. Primary metals, up 24 of the last 25 months, led the increase, $0.3 billion, or 0.9%, to $36.1 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in November increased $0.5 billion or 0.7% to $75.4 billion. Shipments increased $1.9 billion or 2.4% to $79.6 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $4.2 billion or 0.6% to $710.6 billion. Inventories increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $180.5 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in November increased $1.8 billion or 15.4% to $13.9 billion. Shipments decreased $0.2 billion or 1.7% to $11.9 billion. Unfilled orders increased $2.0 billion or 1.3% to $156.0 billion. Inventories decreased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $22.8 billion.