The monthly increase, fired up by a 132.7-percent leap in orders for defense aircraft and parts, reversed a 1.5-percent decline in February, the seasonally adjusted data showed.

Durable goods are items expected to last at least three years, such as washing machines, cars and planes.

A breakdown showed:

-- Orders for transport equipment rose 2.4 percent because of the leap in defense aircraft orders. Civilian aircraft and parts orders declined 12.6 percent. Motor vehicle and parts orders fell 1.1 percent.

-- Capital goods orders rose 3.9 percent, including a 1.8-percent increase in orders for non-defense capital goods, closely watched as a barometer of business plans to expand and modernise.

-- Machinery orders climbed 2.3 percent.

-- Computers and electronic products orders surged 4.0 percent.

-- Electrical equipment orders rose 2.5 percent.

Shipments of durable goods rose 1.0 percent.

Unfilled orders rose 0.3 percent in March, after remaining flat in the previous month.

Inventories were unchanged.

SPACE.WIRE