US new orders for durable goods up 9.2% in March, above forecasts

​​​​​​​By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - New orders for manufactured durable goods in March in the US rose $26.6 billion, or 9.2%, to $315.7 billion, the Census Bureau said Thursday.

The market expectation was for the figure to come in at 2.1%.

The agency said orders were up 0.9% in February, according to revised figures.

Excluding defense, new orders increased 10.4% in March while transportation equipment rose $26.5 billion, or 27%, to $124.6 billion.