New orders for manufactured durable goods in July increased $55.3 billion or 22.6 percent to $300.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up five of the last six months, was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992, and followed a 2.7 percent June increase.

Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.8 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 24.9 percent.

Transportation equipment, also up five of the last six months, drove the increase, $56.6 billion or 74.2 percent to $133.0 billion.

The revised seasonally adjusted June figure for all manufacturing industries for new orders was $505.6 billion revised from $503.2 billion.

To read the full release, go to http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/adv/pdf/durgd.pdf