U.S. Durable Goods Orders Rise 3% on Aircraft

Orders for U.S-made durable goods soared 3% in January to a seasonally adjusted $175.7 billion on higher bookings for civilian airplanes, the Commerce Department estimated Thursday. . December's orders were revised sharply higher as well to a 1.9% increase from 1%. The 3% gain in orders was the biggest gain since July. Economists were looking for a 1.5% gain in total durable goods orders in January. Most of the strength in January, however, came from the 126% increase in volatile civilian aircraft orders. Excluding the 15.6% gain in transportation orders, orders fell 0.6% in January