New orders for US durable goods fell for a second month in a row in September, official data released today showed.
This is another sign of persistent sluggishness in the US manufacturing sector.
Under pressure from another drop in often-volatile transportation equipment orders, new durable goods orders fell 1.2% to a seasonally adjusted $231.1 billion, the Commerce Department said.
The September decline in orders for durable goods - manufactured products that typically last longer than three years - was in line with forecasts and followed a revised 3% drop in August.
Stripping out transportation, new orders fell 0.4% last month. Transportation orders dropped for a second month in a row, by 2.9%. Commercial aircraft orders slumped 35.7%, more than three times as much as in August.
In a positive sign for the car industry, which is enjoying robust sales this year, motor vehicle orders nearly reversed an August dip with 1.8% growth.
Year-on-year, new durable goods orders were down 4.6%.
The latest data highlights the weakness in the manufacturing sector, with exports hit by faltering foreign demand as the global economy slows and the strong dollar that makes them less price-competitive.
US manufacturing has lagged behind most other sectors as the economy musters moderate overall growth six years after exiting severe recession.
The US Commerce Department reports its first estimate of third-quarter economic growth on Thursday.
Analysts expect the US economy slowed to a 1.6% annual from a 3.9% expansion in the second quarter.
