Dados EUA: Surprise rise in June durable goods

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Surprise rise in June durable goods

Economists had expected decline, but orders increased even after May's number revised upwards.

July 27, 2005: 8:48 AM EDT


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Orders for durable goods unexpectedly increased 1.4 percent in June despite weaker demand for aircraft, and May's strong number was revised even higher, government data showed Wednesday.

Wall Street had forecast a 1 percent decline in orders for long-lasting goods. May's orders were revised to a 6.4 percent surge, up from a previously reported 5.5 percent gain.

The Commerce Department said orders excluding volatile transportation equipment rose 2.6 percent, beating analysts' forecasts for a 1 percent gain. May's ex-transportation number was also upwardly revised, to a 0.9 gain from a previously reported 0.3 percent dip.

Non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, regarded as a proxy for business spending, jumped 3.8 percent from a 0.6 percent decline in May, revised from a 2.5 percent fall.

Economists are scrutinizing business spending as a possible weak link in second-quarter GDP growth, whose advanced reading will be posted Friday. GDP is forecast to deliver 3.4 percent annualized growth versus 3.8 percent in the first three months of the year.

Computers and electronic products jumped 8.6 percent, while capital goods softened 0.3 percent and machinery gained 3.7 percent.