New orders for manufactured durable goods in May, up five of the last six months, increased $48.3 billion or 16.4 percent to $343.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This followed a 6.6 percent April decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 15.5 percent. Transportation equipment, also up five of the last six months, led the increase, $47.4 billion or 48.3 percent to $145.4 billion.