New orders for durable goods increased 5.7% in February, the best month since last September, the Census Bureau reports. But the good news was marred by a 2.7% retreat in business investment (new orders for capital goods less defense and aircraft) last month. The mixed news extends to the year-over-year changes, with new orders overall rising 3.8% vs. year-earlier levels while business investment slumped 1.1% in February compared with a year ago. Today’s update isn’t going to impress anyone, but the numbers du jour at least provide some support for thinking that the long-running deceleration in growth for new orders may have run its course.