WASHINGTON — Demand for durable goods climbed faster than economists estimated in September, increasing 3.3% largely due to aircraft and parts orders, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.
Excluding transportation, durable goods orders decreased 0.8% for the month. Transportation equipment jumped 15.7% as nonmilitary aircraft and parts, a volatile monthly figure, surged by $6.6 billion, or 105%.
Economists expected gains of 1.9% for all durable goods orders and 0.4% for orders excluding transportation.
Durable goods orders for August were revised upward to a 1.0% decline from the 1.3% drop reported initially last month. Excluding transportation, August orders rose 1.9%, compared with the 2.0% gain initially reported.
Brian Bethune, an economist at IHS Global Insight, said the slowdown in core demand is no surprise.
“We are transiting a relatively soft spot in the recovery in terms of final domestic spending,” he said.
