Durable Goods Orders Fall Unexpectedly in August

urable goods orders unexpectedly fell 0.5% in August, marking the first back-to-back decrease since 2004, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

The decline, which follows a revised 2.7% drop In July, suggests that companies may be reluctant to buy new equipment or bolster inventories in the face of a slumping housing market, Commerce said.

xcluding transportation equipment, orders were down 2%, the biggest drop since July 2005. The decrease follows a 0.5% gain in June.

Trucking is a major beneficiary of durable goods manufacturing, hauling both components and finished goods.