Durable Orders Dip 0.1% in August

Durable goods orders declined 0.1% in August as demand for automobiles and parts dropped, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

The slight decrease followed a 4.1% gain in July, Commerce said.

Economists had expected a 0.2% decrease in August, Bloomberg reported.

Excluding volatile transportation orders, bookings for goods meant to last several years declined 0.1%, Commerce said.

Demand for automobiles and parts decreased 8.5%, the largest decline since February 2010.

Durable goods include large items like refrigerators and air conditioners. Trucking is a major beneficiary of durable goods manufacturing, hauling both components and finished goods.