New government statistics released Thursday showed a rebound in orders for big-ticket manufactured goods in November, but the pace of growth was well below estimates due largely to a drop in orders for transportation equipment.
A report from the Commerce Department showed that durable goods orders, or orders for items meant to last more than 3 years, edged up by 0.2 percent in November. This followed an unrevised 0.6 percent drop in October.
Economists had been expecting a somewhat more substantial increase of about 0.5 percent.
Excluding a 5.5 percent decrease in orders for transportation equipment, durable goods orders jumped 2.0 percent in November compared to a 0.7 percent decrease in October. The increase exceeded economist estimates of 1.1 percent growth.
In increase in ex-transports orders was partly due to a jump in orders for computer and electronic products, which rose 3.7 percent in November following a 1.9 percent drop in the previous month. Orders for communication equipment showed a notable rebound.
Notable increases in orders for machinery and electrical equipment, appliances, and components also contributed to the jump in ex-transports orders.
Peter Boockvar, equity strategist for Miller Tabak, said, "The data ex-transports was good but has been lumpy over the past year, as we've seen over the past 5 months in particular a down month followed by an up month.
"So, sustainability still remains an open question in the pace of capital spending," he added.
The report showed that the decrease in orders for transportation equipment in November was largely due to a 32.6 percent decrease in orders for non-defense aircraft and parts, which came on the heels of a 39.3 percent increase in the previous month.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said orders for non-defense capital goods, excluding aircraft, which is seen as a good indicator of business spending, rose by 2.9 percent in November following a 2.0 percent decrease in October.
The Commerce Department also said that shipments of durable goods rose by 0.3 percent in November after rising by 0.7 percent in October.
The report also showed that inventories of durable goods fell by 0.2 percent in November after showing a slight increase in the previous month.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.