New orders for manufactured durable goods in August increased $12.7 billion, or 5.3 percent, to $253.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 0.1 percent decrease in July. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.8 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 6.4 percent.

Transportation equipment, up for the second consecutive month, led the increase, rising $11.5 billion, or 15.9 percent, to $83.7 billion. This followed a 4.4 percent increase in July.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August increased $5.0 billion, or 2.0 percent, to $250.6 billion, following a 0.5 percent increase in July. Unfilled orders increased $7.9 billion, or 1.2 percent, to $656.0 billion, following a 0.5 percent increase in July. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 2.62, up from 2.60 in July.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August increased $1.6 billion, or 0.5 percent, to $305.8 billion, following a 0.4 percent increase in July. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.22, down from 1.24 in July.