US durable goods orders down in January

U.S. new orders for manufactured durable goods in January following a four consecutive monthly increase, official data showed here Wednesday.  The Department of Commerce indicated that new orders for manufactured durable goods decreased USD 11.8 billion in January or 5.2 percent to USD 217. 0 billion. It indicated that this decrease followed a 3.7 percent December increase.  Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.9 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.4 percent.  Also, transportation equipment, down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, USD 14.7 billion or 19.8 percent to USD 59.7 billion. This was led by defense aircraft and parts, which decreased USD 5.1 billion, the report showed.