Area Development
Orders for durable goods produced in U.S. factories declined in November, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce, but by a smaller percentage than industry analysts predicted. The drop of 1 percent marked the fourth consecutive month of declining orders, but was less than the 3 percent average prediction from economists. Durable goods are big-ticket items expected to last three years or longer. The November figure reflected a 7.4 percent decline in the transportation sector, including a 37.7 percent slide in demand for commercial aircraft. Excluding transportation, total orders actually rose 1.2 percent. Demand for computers and electronic products rose 5.9 percent, and machinery orders rose 4.1 percent.