New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up two consecutive months, increased $7.3 billion or 2.6 percent to $283.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This followed a 0.7 percent February increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.2 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.3 percent. Transportation equipment, also up two consecutive months, led the increase, $6.8 billion or 7.7 percent to $95.9 billion.