New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up following three consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2.6 billion or 0.8 percent to $318.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This followed a 1.2 percent February decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.9 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.3 percent. Computers and electronic products, up eleven of the last twelve months, led the increase, $1.0 billion or 3.7 percent to $29.6 billion.