Orders for Durable Goods Decline 3.1% in November

rders for durable goods in the United States fell 3.1% in November, led by the largest decline in computers and electronic products since July 2000, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

A decrease in orders for durable goods, which are manufactured goods expected to last at least three years, will likely lower the amount of goods produced by U.S. factories for shipment by truck.

The decline to $180.1 billion followed a 4% rise in October. The decline was the first in three months and the largest since September 2002.

Orders for computers and electronic products declined 10.8% last month after rising 2.6% in October. Transportation equipment bookings fell 1.6% and bookings for motor vehicles dropped 1.2%

Commerce also said shipments of durable goods last month rose 0.1% percent to $184.1 billion, while inventories dropped 0.1% and unfilled orders climbed 0.4%.

Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a proxy for future business investment, fell 5.9% last month after gaining 1.5% in October.

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