MW: July durable orders up less-than-expected 0.3%
By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Orders for U.S.-made durable goods rose 0.3% in July, the first increase in three months, on stronger demand for airplanes, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. The increase was not as strong as expected as many sectors outside aircraft were weak. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected a 2.7% gain. However, orders in June fell an upwardly revised 0.1%, much less than the prior estimate of a 1.2% drop. Aircraft orders, primarily from Boeing Co. (BA 60.63, -0.30, -0.49%) rose 75% in July. Outside of aircraft was much weaker. Shipments rose 2.2% in July, but were up 0.6% excluding transportation.
