Durable Goods Orders Rise on Higher Transportation Orders

Durable goods orders rose in July but declined excluding transportation orders, the Commerce Department said Friday.

Overall orders for goods mean to last at least three years rose 4.2%. Excluding transportation orders, which tend to be volatile, orders slipped 0.4%.

Orders for motor vehicles and parts improved 13%, while civilian aircraft orders jumped 54%.

Bookings for non-defense capital equipment excluding aircraft fell 3.4%, Bloomberg reported. Economists’ median forecast for overall orders was a 2.5% gain, Bloomberg said.

Durable goods include large items like refrigerators and air conditioners. Trucking is a major beneficiary of durable goods manufacturing, hauling both components and finished goods.