Durable Goods Orders Rise 4.2% in June

Durable goods orders rose 4.2% in June, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The increase, which followed a revised 5.2% upturn in May, was well above economists’ median forecast of a 1.4% gain, Bloomberg News reported.

Bookings excluding transportation equipment, which is often volatile, were unchanged following a 1% rise in May. Aircraft orders jumped 31.4%.

Orders for automobiles and parts rose 1.3% after a 0.8% decline in May. Cars and light trucks sold at a 15.9 million annual pace, the strongest since November 2007, 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 products.