New orders for manufactured durable goods in April increased $7.7 billion or 3.4 percent to $235.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.  This increase, up three of the last four months, followed a 1.9 percent March increase.  Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4 percent.  Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.7 percent.

Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four months, led the increase, $7.1 billion or 8.9 percent to $87.1 billion.   

Revised seasonally adjusted March figures for all manufacturing industries for new orders were $451.4 billion revised from $451.1 billion.