Durable Goods Orders Slip in December

Durable goods orders declined 2.5% in December but improved excluding transportation orders, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

Orders for non-transportation capital equipment rose for the second straight month, gaining 1.4% following a 3.1% gain in November, Commerce said.

Analysts had forecast a 1.3% increase in durables orders, Bloomberg reported.

Excluding transportation, orders rose 0.5% following a 4.5% gain in November. Analysts had forecast a 0.8% increase, Bloomberg said. Aircraft orders plunged 99%.

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.