Washington, DC, November 24--Orders for durable goods unexpectedly slipped 0.4 percent in October, according to a Commerce Department report.
Non-defense durable goods orders dropped 1.5 percent, the sixth decline in the last seven months, and orders excluding transportation fell 0.7 percent, the department said.
Economists had forecast an increase of 0.5 percent, with non-transportation orders up 0.2 percent and orders excluding defense up 0.3 percent.
While the report was weaker than expected, upward revisions to September's figure helped temper the picture. Durable goods orders in September were up 0.9 percent, compared to the 0.2 percent gain reported previously.
Strong demand for military aircraft gave the October figures a stronger appearance then they would have had otherwise.
Orders for military aircraft soared 35.2 percent last month, but civilian aircraft orders slid 0.4 percent. Motor vehicle demand fell a sharp 2.8 percent and orders for computers and related products dropped 10.3 percent.
Civilian capital goods orders, excluding aircraft, fell 3.6 percent last month, reversing much of September's 5.2 percent rise.
