Durable Goods Orders Rise 4.6%

Durable goods orders rose 4.6% in December, the Commerce Department reported Monday.

The increase followed a 0.7% gain in November and topped economists’ median forecast of a 2% increase, Bloomberg News reported.

Bookings for non-defense capital equipment, excluding aircraft, rose 0.2% following an upwardly revised 3% increase in November.

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.