Washington, DC, December 23, 2005--Durable goods orders rose 4.4 percent in November, according to the Commerce Department, for the largest rise in overall durable goods orders since May.
Economists had forecast an increase of 1 percent.
October orders were revised upward to an increase of 3 percent from a previously reported 2.2 percent gain.
The overall number was boosted by a 133.8 rise in non-defense aircraft and parts. Meanwhile, motor vehicles and parts orders slipped 5.7 percent while defense aircraft and parts orders tumbled 44.3 percent. Defense capital goods orders fell 26.6 percent.
Machinery orders dropped 1.6 percent and communications equipment orders fell 4.4 percent.
Non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, seen as a proxy for business spending, dropped by 2.0 percent.
Unfilled orders jumped 3.1 percent, the biggest increase since June 2000.
