Orders for Durable Goods Fall Less Than Expected

Washington, DC, Dec. 24, 2008–Orders for U.S.-made durable goods fell 1% in November, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, as orders for transportation goods fell 7.4%.

Economists had expected an overall decline of 3%. Excluding transportation, orders rose 1.2%.

Orders for core capital equipment – the kind of investments businesses make to expand or update their productive capacity – rose 4.7% in November, after a 6.6% decline in October.

November shipments of durable goods fell 2.6% after a 3.4% decline in October. Excluding transportation, shipments fell 2.4% in November after a 2.7% decline in October.