By Ruth Mantell
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Orders for U.S.-made durable goods fell 3.3% in October -- the largest decline since January of 2009 -- as transportation orders fell, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected a decline of 0.2%. Excluding transportation, new orders fell 2.7% in October - the largest decline since March of 2009. Core durable-goods orders, which are orders for capital goods excluding defense and aircraft, fell 4.5% in October after a 1.9% rise in September. Shipments of durable goods fell 0.9% in October, while inventories rose 0.4%. Durable-goods orders in September were revised higher to a gain of 5%, compared with a prior estimate of a 3.5% increase. Durable goods are expensive items designed to last three years or longer, and while the data is volatile from month to month, analysts see a trend in orders as a valuable leading economic indicator.
