U.S. monthly manufactured durable goods increased $2.7 billion or 0.9% in February from January, according to an advance report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Released March 26, the report showed that February orders increased to $289.3 billion. This followed a 3.3% increase in January. Orders had declined month-to-month in four out of the six of the previous months.

Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast a 1.0% decline in February durable goods orders.

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The February increase was driven by transportation equipment — up two consecutive months — which was up 1.5% vs. January. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.7% compared to January. Excluding defense, new orders increased 0.8%.

Capital goods decreased 1.5% month-to-month

Shipment of manufactured goods — up three consecutive months — increased 1.2% to $292.3 billion month-to-month. This followed a January increase of 0.4%.

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Unfilled orders for durable goods in February — up seven of the last eight months — increased 0.1% to $1.4 trillion month-to-month. This followed a January increase of 0.2%.

February’s inventories for durable goods — up four consecutive months — increased 0.1% to $533.2 billion month-to-month. This followed a 0.1% increase in January.

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

source: tradingeconomics.com

The Bureau will issue its final report for February durable goods orders on April 2.

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

Primary Metals

• Shipments: +1.5%
• New Orders: +1.2%

Fabricated Metal Products

• Shipments: +0.6%
• New Orders: +0.9%

Machinery

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

Computers and Electronic Products

• Shipments: +0.6%
• New Orders: +0.2%

Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components

• Shipments: +0.7%
• New Orders: +2.0%

Transportation Equipment

• Shipments: +2.0%
• New Orders: +1.5%

All Other Durable Goods

• Shipments: +0.4%
• New Orders: +0.5%

Capital Goods

• Shipments: +0.4%
• New Orders: -1.5%