US orders for durable goods slip 0.2% in January – CNBC, CNBC

Orders to US Factories for big-ticket manufactured goods dipped in January, pulled down by decreased demand for cars, auto parts, and military aircraft.

The Commerce Department said Thursday that orders for durable goods slipped 0.2% last month after climbing 2.9% in December. Excluding volatile transportation orders, durable goods orders rose 0.9%, fastest growth since April 2020.

Economists had expected a bigger drop in overall orders for durable goods, which are items such as appliances and industrial machinery meant to last at least three years.

Over the past year, the orders are down 2.3% and are flat excluding transportation.

American industry has been hobbled over the past year by President Donald Trump’s trade war with China and a global economy that looked fragile even before being hit by fallout from a fast-moving coronavirus outbreak.

The numbers have been especially volatile in recent months because of Boeing’s decision to suspend production of its troubled Max airliner. Orders for civilian aircraft surged 823 2% in January after dropping . 7% in December.

Orders for military aircraft plunged . 6% last month, and orders for cars and auto parts slid 0.8%. Excluding orders for military goods, orders climbed 3.6%, most since June 2017.

Orders for computers were up 8% and orders for machinery were up 2.1%.

A category that tracks business investment – orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft – rose 1.1% in January after falling December and being flat in November.

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