Durable Goods Orders Climb 0.1% in August

Durable goods orders increased 0.1% in August, the Commerce Department said Sept. 25.

The gain followed a revised 8.1% drop in July that was larger than originally reported.

Orders excluding transportation equipment, which is often volatile, fell 0.1% following a 0.5% drop in July.

Demand for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft, a proxy for future business investment in computers and electronics, rose 1.5% following a 3.3% decrease. It was the largest increase since May, Bloomberg News reported.

Durable goods include large items meant to last at least three years, such as refrigerators and air conditioners. Trucking is a major beneficiary of durable goods manufacturing, hauling components and finished products.