WASHINGTON — A surge in demand for commercial aircraft lifted orders for big-ticket manufactured goods in September, but businesses spent less on products that would signal expansion.
The Commerce Department said orders for durable goods rose 3.3 percent last month. Overall, it was the best showing since January. But excluding transportation, orders fell 0.8 percent after having risen 1.9 percent in August.
And spending by companies on capital goods excluding aircraft dropped 0.6 percent after rising 4.8 percent in August. The category, which is viewed as a good proxy for business investment, has declined in two of the past three months.
The new report suggests manufacturing is moving forward but at a slower pace than earlier this year.
Factories helped boost the economy after the recession ended, filling orders from businesses that moved to rebuild their stockpiles after slashing them during the downturn.
The biggest decline in September was in orders for communications equipment, which fell 18.6 percent. Orders for primary metals such as steel dropped 0.5 percent.
Orders for computers and related electronics products rose 2 percent, and orders for heavy machinery advanced 2 percent. The Associated Press
