The U.S. Census Bureau reported new orders for manufactured durable goods in April were down following four consecutive monthly increases.

New orders decreased $19.9 billion, or 6.3 percent, to $296.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced this week. This followed a 7.6 percent March increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.2 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 7.5 percent. Transportation equipment, also down following four consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $20.3 billion or 17.1 percent to $98.8 billion.

Seasonally adjusted shipments in April reached $300.6 billion, up from $299.5 billion in March, the Census Bureau reported. Excluding transportation, shipments in April totaled $202.8 billion, down from $203.1 billion in March.