New durable goods orders fell 0.7% to $231.17 billion in April, breaking a run of four straight monthly increases and down from March's revised 2.3% rise, the U.S. Census Bureau reported May 26.

Transportation equipment led the contraction, falling 1.2% to $78.52 billion. Excluding defense, new orders shrank 0.8%.

Durable goods shipments slipped 0.3% to $233.0 billion, as the pace of decline intensified from a 0.1% retreat in March. Unfilled orders for durable goods rose 0.2% to $1.123 trillion compared with a 0.3% increase the previous month.

Inventories of manufactured goods increased 0.1% to $394.23 billion, lower than the 0.2% rate of increase in March.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in April decreased 1.9% to $70.42 billion.