Durable Goods Orders Jump 2.9% in April

Durable goods orders rose 2.9% in April for the fourth gain in five months, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

The increase was the biggest in three months and followed a 1.2% increase in March that was slightly higher than originally reported.

Economists had forecast durables orders to increase 1.3%.

Excluding transportation equipment orders, which tend to be volatile, orders fell 1%, Commerce said, but revisions showed bigger increases for non-transport orders in the past few months.

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.