New orders for manufactured durable goods in January increased $8.5 billion or 3.4% to $256.6 billion, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced. This increase, up nine consecutive months, followed a 1.2% December increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.4%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.3%. Transportation, up eight of the last nine months, led the increase, $6.1 billion or 7.8% to $85.1 billion.