Durable Goods Orders Fall 1.3%

Durable goods orders fell 1.3% in August, the Commerce Department said Friday.

The drop followed a revised 0.7% increase in July that was larger than first reported.

Economists had forecast a 1% decline, Bloomberg reported. Demand was depressed by a drop in transportation equipment such as airplanes and automobiles.

Excluding transportation equipment orders, which tend to be volatile, orders rose 2%, more than forecast.

Orders for capital equipment such as computers and communications products rose 4.1%, following a 5.3% decline in July, Bloomberg said.

Durable goods include large items such as refrigerators and air conditioners. Trucking is a major beneficiary of durable goods manufacturing, hauling both components and finished goods.