New orders for manufactured durable goods in July increased $4.6 billion or 2.0 percent to $241.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.  This increase, up two consecutive months, followed a 4.1 percent June increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.6 percent.  Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.0 percent.

Transportation equipment, also up two consecutive months, led the increase, $3.8 billion or 4.7 percent to $83.2 billion.  

The revised seasonally adjusted June figure for all manufacturing industries for new orders was $480.0 billion, revised from $478.5 billion.