U.S. monthly manufactured durable goods orders increased 9.9% in July from June, according to an advance report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Released Aug. 26, the report showed that July orders increased to a total of $289.6 billion. This follows a June decrease of 6.7%.

It marked the largest one-month increase since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when it increased 13.1%, 9.5% and 9.8% in May, June and July 2020, respectively, coming out of pandemic-related factory shutdowns. 

Year-over-year, total durable goods orders were also up 9.9%.

The July increase was driven by transportation equipment — up two of the last three months — which was up 34.8% vs June. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.2%. Excluding defense, July’s new orders increased 10.4% compared to June.

Capital goods orders increased 34.3% month-to-month.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods increased 1.1% in July vs June, following a 1.2% increase.

July’s unfilled orders for durable goods increased 0.2%, following a 1.4% decrease in June. This followed a 0.2% increase in May.

July’s inventories of durable goods increased 0.1%, following a 0.1% decrease in June.

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Here is how monthly new orders and shipment of different durable goods product categories fared in July, seasonally adjusted, according to Census Bureau’s advance data:

Primary Metals

• Shipments: -0.5%
• New Orders: -0.9%

Fabricated Metal Products

• Shipments: +0.1%
• New Orders: +0.2%

Machinery

• Shipments: -0.7%
• New Orders: 0.0%

Computers and Electronic Products

• Shipments: 0.0%
• New Orders: -0.7%

Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components

• Shipments: +0.4%
• New Orders: -0.4%

Transportation Equipment

• Shipments: +3.6%
• New Orders: +34.8%

All Other Durable Goods

• Shipments: 0.0%
• New Orders: +0.1%

Capital Goods

• Shipments: +4.6%
• New Orders: +34.3%