New orders for U.S.-made durable goods — products meant to last three years or more — increased 0.7% month-to-month in April to $284.1 billion, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released May 24. 

Following gains of 0.8% in March and 1.2% in February, it marked the first time orders increased in three consecutive months since April-May-June 2023.

March’s gain was sharply revised down from the advance +2.6% estimate.

April’s monthly figure considerably exceeded expectations of a 0.5% decline by economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal.

Transportation and defense drove most of April’s gain. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4%. Excluding defense, new orders were virtually unchanged. Transportation equipment was the single-largest mover, up 1.2% in April.

Capital goods orders decreased 1.5% in April to $85.6 billion.

Year-over-year, April orders were down 0.9%.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods — also up three consecutive months — increased 1.2% in April to $285.7 billion, following a 0.1% March gain. Transportation equipment led the increase with a 3.4% gain to $93.0 billion.

April unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods — up 45 consecutive months — increased 0.2% to $1.401 billion, following a 0.3% March gain. Transportation equipment drove the increase, up 0.4% to $906.7 billion.

April inventories of manufactured durable goods — down four of the past five months — ticked up 0.1% to $528.5 billion, following a virtually unchanged March. Transportation led the increase, up 0.4% to $170.9 billion.

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Here’s how advance monthly new orders and shipments of different durable goods product categories fared in April, seasonally-adjusted, according to Census Bureau data:

Primary Metals

• Shipments: +0.8%
• New Orders: +1.3%

Fabricated Metal Products

• Shipments: 0.0%
• New Orders: +0.3%

Machinery

• Shipments: +0.1%
• New Orders: +0.4%

Computers and Electronic Products

• Shipments: 0.0%
• New Orders: +0.6%

Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components

• Shipments: +0.5%
• New Orders: +0.9%

Transportation Equipment

• Shipments: +3.4%
• New Orders: +1.2%

All Other Durable Goods

• Shipments: -0.1%
• New Orders: -0.2%

Capital Goods

• Shipments: +2.4%
• New Orders: +0.5%