Durable Goods Orders Fall 0.5%

Durable goods orders fell 0.5% in April, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

Excluding transportation orders that tend to be volatile, bookings for goods meant to last several years rose 2.5%, the most since July, Commerce said.

Economists had forecast orders to fall 1.5%, and excluding transportation orders fall 0.5%, Bloomberg reported.

Durable goods are those meant to last for several years, including large items like refrigerators and air conditioners. Trucking is a major beneficiary of durable goods manufacturing, hauling both components and finished goods.