WASHINGTON – Durable goods orders dropped 1.3% in November, the second straight decline, as transportation orders sank, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.
Durable goods excluding transportation increased 2.4% the largest increase since March.
Economists expected durable goods would fall 0.4% and for orders excluding transportation would increase 1.6%, according to the median estimate from Thomson Reuters.
New orders for transportation equipment fell 11.9%, the largest decline since March. Auto orders declined 2.9%.
The core figure of nondefense capital goods orders excluding aircraft increased 2.6% following a 3.6% decrease in October.
Total durable goods ordered in October decreased 3.1%, revised higher from a 3.3% drop reported last month. October orders excluding transportation were also revised higher to a 1.9% decline from the 2.7% slide reported last month.
Total unfilled orders for November increased 0.4%.
