Durable Goods Orders Pick Up

 

Jan. 26, 2007 -- Orders for durable goods rose 3.1 percent in December to $221.9 billion, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

The gains were driven by a higher demand for transportation equipment, including a $3.2 billion increase for airplanes and parts, the report said.

Excluding transportation goods, new orders rose 2.2 percent, the first increase in three months, the report said.

Both shipments and inventories also rose modestly, the report said.

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