New orders for manufactured durable goods in September, up six of the last seven months, increased $6.3 billion or 1.8 percent to $345.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This followed a 0.1 percent August increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.2 percent. Transportation equipment, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $5.2 billion or 4.6 percent to $119.8 billion.