By Economic Report: U.S. factory orders rise in December on strong aircraft orders
Orders for U.S. manufactured goods rose 1.8% in December, led by strong demand for civilian aircraft, the Commerce Department said Thursday.
Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal were expecting a gain of 2%.
Durable-goods orders rose 5.6% in December, unrevised from the initial estimate.
Orders for commercial aircraft, mainly Boeing airplanes rose sharply.
Factory orders, excluding transportation, were down 1.2%.
Orders for nondurable goods were down 1.9% in the month after a 2.1% drop in November.
Orders for non-defense capital goods, excluding aircraft, fell a revised 0.1% in December, up slightly from the prior reading of a 0.2% drop. This sector is seen as a bellwether for future activity.
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