US durable goods orders rose 3,3% to $222,6 billion last month, well above estimates. Analysts were expecting a rise of 1,3%, after the 5,9% drop in March (data revised upwards from -6,9% in the first reading). This is a positive sign for the trend of the manufacturing sector, which is fundamental for the American economic recovery. The data was released by the US Department of Commerce.
Expenses grew across the board, driven by the jump in aircraft and components for the defense sector (+53,3%) and civil aircraft (+18,1%). Excluding transport, orders for durable goods grew by 1,3%. Capital goods orders, a key indicator of private sector investment, grew 1,2%. In any case, deliveries, a figure used to calculate the quarterly gross domestic product, fell by 1,5%.
