Aircraft Orders Boost U.S. Durable Goods in April

Aircraft Orders Drive Surge in U.S. Durable Goods Orders for April

A robust 7.9% increase in April durable goods orders looks less impressive when transportation items are excluded. The category, which includes aircraft, typically carries big dollar figures even for small volumes.

Transportation Equipment Orders Soar

New orders of transportation equipment rose 21.5% in April, versus 1.7% in March. The swing in nondefense aircraft and parts is even more eye-catching: 166%, following a 23% decline in March. Aircraft orders amounted to $36.8 billion, nearly 11% of the $346 billion headline figure.

Excluding transportation, new orders increased only 1.1%, unchanged from March.