Durable Goods Orders Rise

Orders for “big ticket” durable goods rose 0.9% in December as civilian demand showed the biggest gain in almost four years, the government reported today.

The Commerce Department said orders for durable goods, items expected to last three or more years, totaled a seasonally adjusted $109.85 billion in December after a huge 5.1% November increase.

However, the November gain, the biggest in two years, was powered by a giant 107.1% rise in defense orders.