US: Manufactured durable goods orders in Dec increased 2.9% to $249.4 billion

"New orders for manufactured durable goods in December increased $7.0 billion or 2.9 percent to $249.4 billion," the U.S. Census Bureau reported on Friday.

Key highlights

This increase, up four of the last five months, followed a 1.7 percent November increase.

Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.6 percent.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, up seven of the last eight months, increased $1.5 billion or 0.6 percent to $246.8 billion. This followed a 1.3 percent November increase. 

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in December, up four consecutive months, increased $6.9 billion or 0.6 percent to $1,144.1 billion.