For July
Provided by: U.S. Census Bureau

Orders ex. Transportation: 0.7%, pr. 2.0% (Jun), -0.9% (May), 1.9% (Apr)
Orders ex. Defense: 2.8%, pr. 0.1% (Jun), -0.5% (May), -0.8% (Apr)
Non-defense Capital Goods ex. Aircraft: 2.6%, pr. 1.3% (Jun)

Demand for more expensive goods, designed to last at 3 years, surprised forecasts on the upside.

From the Release: "New orders for manufactured durable goods in July increased $2.9 billion or 1.3 percent to $219.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This was the third consecutive monthly increase and followed a 1.3 percent June increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.7 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.8 percent."

That's two good month of solid orders, bridging the end of the 2nd quarter and the start of the 3rd quarter. Business spending can be gleamed from the category - non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft - which increased 2.6%, after goin up 1.3% in June. On the year that barmeter is up 4.2%, implying that companies are still spending during more uncertain economic times.

The Dollar rallied during the NY open, especially against the Yen, helping by this positive release.

For June
Provided by: U.S. Census Bureau
Official Release: PDF

Orders ex. Transportation: 2.0%, pr. -0.9% (May), 1.9% (Apr)
Orders ex. Defense: 0.1%, pr. -0.5% (May), -0.8% (Apr)

Orders for durable goods surprised on the upside, increasing 0.8%, a positive piece of fundamental data that shows US manufacturers doing better than expected. Orders excluding the transportation sector was even stronger, climbing 2%, the highest this year. Orders for automobiles increased 1.8%, as a strike ended at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, with production returning to full capacity. A measure of business investment, orders for non-defense capital goods exluding aircraft, rose 1.4%, a significant increase after a 0.1% decline in May. All around it was a good report that countered some of the regional releases such as the Philadelphia and Richmond Fed Manufacturing Indexes, and a Beige Book that said economic activity had slowed. 

The US Dollar which had been falling prior to the NY open, got a boost from the data reversing some of its earlier losses against the Euro and Pound. 

For May
Provided by the U.S. Census Bureau
Official Release (pdf)
 
ex-transportation: -0.9% pr. 1.9%(r)
ex-defense: -0.6%, -0.8%(r)

Orders for durable goods were flat in May after a downwardly revised 1.0% drop in April. Non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircrafts is a barometer of business investment dropped 0.8% after rising 3.1% in April. The good news is that capital spending still stands 3.4% higher than a year ago. Look ahead for future demand, unfilled orders dropped 1.1%. From the release:

New orders for manufactured durable goods in May increased slightly to $213.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This was the first increase in three months and followed a 1.0 percent April decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.9 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.6 percent.

So much for the resilience in demand. The FOMC will need to weigh in the continuing slowdown in its decision later today. The Fed knows that its oil and food prices that have been dampening mood, and they don't really have the tools to control these external factors. It's best to wait and allow the cooling economy to create extra capacity and in turn introduce some downside pressure to prices.

Orders ex. Transportation: 2.5% pr. 1.5% (Mar), pr. -2.1% (Feb)

Total orders for durable goods declined, but at a slower pace than economists estimated. Orders for transportation equipments dropped 8.0% after 5.1% in March. Without this component, orders increased 2.5%. Excluding defense equipments, orders were down 0.3%. Stripping both transportation and defense equipments from the index, the reading is a 4.2% increase. This indicates business equipment spending and is a welcome sign amidst a weaknening economy.

New Orders: New orders for manufactured durable goods in April decreased $1.0 billion or 0.5 percent to $214.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This was the third decrease in four months and followed a 0.3 percent March decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 2.5 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.3 percent.

Shipments: Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2.5 billion or 1.2 percent to $212.2 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent March decrease.

For March
Provided by: US Census Bureau

Orders ex. Transportation: 1.5%, forecast 0.5%, pr. -2.1% (rev from -2.6%)

Orders for big-ticket items surprised on the downside in March, declining 0.3%, making it the 3rd straight month of declines. It suggests that manufacturing will continue to go through a rough period as the broader economy falters. A measure of business equipment spending - orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft - was flat, after declining the last 2 months. Transportation orders were down 4.6%. Defense new orders for capital goods decreased 19.8%, a major factor in the negative result.

Orders excluding transportation orders were up 1.5%, surprising on the upside. Demand from overseas, primarily driven by a weak dollar, helped factories offset lower domestic demand as a result of the housing led slowdown.  It reverses a 2.1% decline in February.

The better than expected increase in core orders and positive job growth data helped boost the Dollar today in early NY trading.

For February
Provided by: US Census Bureau

Durable Orders ex. Transportation: -2.6%, forecast -0.3%, pr. -1.6% (Jan), 2.6% (Dec), -0.7% (Nov)

New Orders for Durable Goods retreated 5.3% in January wiping away December's 5.2% gain. Orders are expected to rebound in February, with the consensus forecast at 0.8%, though "core" orders, which strip out transportation is forecast to post its 3rd negative result in 4 months.

The results undershot expectations falling 1.7%, led by a slump in orders for machinery. That is an importnat sign that firms are scaling back their investment as the economy moves twoards a recession. Durable Orders, not including transportation equipment fell 2.6%, also suprising on the downside. 

For January
Provided by: US Census Bureau

Durable Orders ex. Transportation: -1.6%

Durable Goods Orders declined more than expected by economists for January. The data points to a reduction in orders for transportation, which saw the sector decline by 13.4%. Orders for commercial planes decreased 30% and military aircraft orders fell 32.6%. Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft - an important gauge of capital investemnet - declined 1.4% after having increased 1.7% in December.

With the current broad weakness experienced by the Dollar, this report does not do anything to stem that tide.

"New orders for manufactured durable goods in January decreased $12.0 billion or 5.3 percent to $212.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease followed two consecutive monthly increases including a 4.4 percent December increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 1.6 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 4.7 percent."

For December.
Provided by US Census Bureau

Orders for goods designed to last more than 3 years, such as airplanes and appliances, saw a larger than expected increase, and provides some positive signs for the economy. Overall, durable goods rose 5.2%, and businesses showed they were spending on capital goods. One sub guage that shows business optimism - orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft - increased in December by 4.4%, after falling 0.2% in November.

Part of this month's gains was the result of higher orders of commercial airplanes (+11.7%) and military aircraft orders rose 138.1%. Excluding orders for transportation, "core" durable goods were up 2.6%.