U.S. monthly manufactured durable goods increased $8.7 billion or 3.1% in January from December, according to an advance report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Released Feb. 27, the report showed that January orders increased to $286 billion. This followed a 1.8% decrease in December. Orders had declined month-to-month in four out of the five previous months.

Year-over-year, total durable goods increased 3.1%.

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The January increase was driven by transportation equipment — up following two consecutive monthly decreases — which was up 9.8% vs. December. Excluding transportation, new orders were unchanged compared to December. Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.5%.

Capital goods increased 12.9% month-to-month.

Shipments of manufactured goods — up two consecutive months —increased 0.4% to $288.2 billion month-to-month. This followed a December increase of 0.8%.

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January’s unfilled order for durable goods in January — up six of the last seven months — increased 0.2% to $1.4 trillion month-to-month. This followed a December decrease of 0.5%.

January’s inventories for durable goods — up three consecutive months — increased 0.1% to $533 billion month-to-month. This followed a December 0.4% increase.

Durable Goods New Orders: Month-to-Month Percentage Change

source: tradingeconomics.com

The Bureau will issue its final report for January durable goods orders on March 5.

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Here is how monthly new orders and shipment of different durable goods product categories fare in January, seasonally adjusted, according to the Census Bureau’s advance data:

Primary Metals

• Shipments: +0.4%
• New Orders: +1.0%

Fabricated Metal Products

• Shipments: +0.1%
• New Orders: -1.2%

Machinery

• Shipments: -0.3%
• New Orders: +0.2%

Computers and Electronic Products

• Shipments: +0.3%
• New Orders: +1.7%

Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components

• Shipments: +0.6%
• New Orders: +0.1%

Transportation Equipment

• Shipments: +1.3%
• New Orders: +9.8%

All Other Durable Goods

• Shipments: -0.4%
• New Orders: -0.6%

Capital Goods

• Shipments: +2.6%
• New Orders: +10.7%