Durable goods orders climbed 3% in December as demand for automobiles, aircraft and business equipment rose, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

Orders for new Class 8 trucks jumped 68.6% last year from 2010, as the year closed with an 11.8% increase in December from a year earlier, according to ACT Research Co.

Factory orders increased 1.8% in November, the biggest gain in four months, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

Factory orders decreased 0.4% in October, the Commerce Department said Monday.

Durable goods orders declined 0.7% in October as demand for aircraft and business equipment dropped, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

Class 8 truck orders in North America jumped 46% in October over the corresponding month of last year, leading several major truck dealers to conclude both that the industry has begun a multi-year recovery and that some fleets have quietly begun to expand.

Factory orders rose 0.3% in September, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

Durable goods orders declined 0.8% in September as demand for aircraft dropped, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

North American fleets ordered 23,800 new Class 8 vehicles in September, a 55.5% jump over the same month last year and a clear sign the heavy-duty truck market recovery is continuing, analysts and industry figures said.

Factory orders declined 0.2% in August as vehicle bookings decreased, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.