New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 1.4 percent in June, led by new orders for non-defense aircraft and parts, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. New orders fell 2.3 percent
in May but have increased four of the last five months.
Excluding transportation equipment, June new orders slipped 0.5 percent from the previous month. Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.9 percent.
New orders for transportation equipment rose 6.1 percent overall. Within that segment, orders for motor vehicles and parts fell 1.4 percent following a 2 percent decline in May and a 2.7 percent decrease in April. Orders for non-defense aircraft and parts rose 28.7 percent, following two consecutive months of double-digit decline. New orders for defense aircraft and parts were up 9.9 percent.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods were down 1.1 percent in June, following three consecutive monthly increases. Unfilled orders, up 24 of the last 26 months, increased 1.5 percent. Inventories, up 16 consecutive months, increased 0.2 percent. Unfilled orders and inventories reached the highest levels since the current reporting system was adopted in 1992.