Durable Goods Orders Gain 3.6% in May

Durable goods orders rose 3.6% in May, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

The increase was larger than economists’ median forecast of a 3% gain, Bloomberg News reported, and followed a 3.3% upturn in April.

Excluding transportation equipment, which is often volatile, bookings rose 0.7%, also topping projections. Aircraft orders jumped 51%.

Orders for automobiles and parts fell 1.2% after a 2.4% increase in April, although cars and light trucks sold at a 15.2 million annual pace, up 2.4% from April, Bloomberg reported.

Durable goods include large items meant to last at least three years, such as refrigerators and air conditioners. Trucking is a major beneficiary of durable goods manufacturing, hauling components and finished goods.