December orders for manufactured goods rose $10.1 billion, or 2.3 percent from November, to $441.6 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The numbers represent the highest level since 1992. New orders have increased in six of the last seven months.
Orders for manufactured durable goods, such as cars and appliances, rose 5 percent, while new orders for nondurable manufactured goods, or goods manufactured for a one-time use or designed to last less than one year, decreased 0.4 percent.
Shipments for both durable and nondurable goods decreased for the month, down 0.2 and 0.4 percent, respectively.
