Washington, DC, May 25—-Orders for durable goods in April jumped 1.9 percent, according to a report issued today by the Commerce Department. It was the best showing in five months, following four straight monthly declines and a drop of 1.6 percent in March.
Economists had forecast an increase of 1.3 percent during the month.
During April, orders for transportation equipment rose 8.2 percent, with demand for motor vehicles and parts increasing by 3.4 percent. Orders for commercial aircraft were up 28.2 percent and demand for military aircraft rose by 26.3 percent.
Excluding transportation, orders would have edged down a slight 0.2 percent in April.
Demand for computers and other electronic products fell by 5.8 percent after having posted a 4.7 percent gain in March while orders for communications equipment were off an even larger 18.8 percent, reversing a 10.3 percent jump in March.
Orders for non-defense capital goods, viewed as an indicator of business plans to expand and modernize, rose by 3.8 percent in April, the best showing since a 7.7 percent surge last November.
