New orders for manufactured durable goods in January, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $8.7 billion or 3.1 percent to $286.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This followed a 1.8 percent December decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders were virtually unchanged. Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.5 percent. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $8.6 billion or 9.8 percent to $96.5 billion.