Posted January 27, 2011
Durable goods orders decline in December
New orders for manufactured durable goods decreased $5.0 billion or 2.5 percent in December to $191.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today.
This decrease, down four of the last five months, followed a 0.1 percent November decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5 percent.
Excluding defense, new orders decreased 2.5 percent. Transportation equipment, also down four of the last five months, had the largest decrease, $5.8 billion or 12.8 percent to $39.2 billion. This was due to nondefense aircraft and parts, which decreased $5.0
billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods, up three of the last four months, increased $2.8 billion or 1.4 percent to $200.4 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent November increase.
Machinery, up four of the last five months, had the largest increase, $1.7 billion or 6.7 percent to $27.1 billion.
