New orders for durable goods manufactured in the United States fell by $4.7 billion, or 2.6 percent, in December compared to November, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The decline was the fifth consecutive monthly decline and followed a 3.7 percent November decrease.
Without the 0.6 percent increase in orders for transportation goods, orders fell 3.6 percent. Without new orders for defense goods, which increased by 32.9 percent, or $2.8 billion, orders decreased by 4.9 percent.
