U.S. business spending gauge surges, durable goods orders soar
WASHINGTON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - - A gauge of U.S. business investment plans surged in October, the latest suggestion that the worst of the drag from a strong dollar and deep spending cuts by energy firms was over.
The Commerce Department said on Wednesday non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy
for business spending plans, increased 1.3 percent last month after an upwardly revised 0.4 percent rise in September.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast these so-called core capital goods orders rising only 0.4 percent after
September's previously reported 0.1 percent dip.
The report came on the heels of data this month showing a solid increase in manufacturing output in October. A survey of
factories also showed a rise in new orders last month. Manufacturing, which accounts for 12 percent of the economy,
has been slammed by the dollar strength and the spending cuts in the energy sector. The dollar has appreciated 18.1 percent
against the currencies of the United States' main trading partners since June 2014.
The pace of appreciation, however, is gradually slowing. Economists also believe that the bulk of spending cuts by oil
field firms like Schlumberger (SLB.N) in response to lower crude prices have already been implemented.
Still, manufacturing has to deal with an inventory overhang. Data on Tuesday showed businesses had not been as aggressive as
initially thought in their efforts to reduce unsold merchandise, leading to an accumulation of inventories that economists said
was unsustainable.
Shipments of core capital goods, which are used to calculate equipment spending in the government's gross domestic product
measurement, fell 0.4 percent last month after an upwardly revised 0.7 percent gain in September.
Core capital goods shipments were previously reported to have risen 0.5 percent in September. An 8.0 percent jump in transportation equipment spending also contributed to lifting overall orders for durable goods - items ranging from toasters to aircraft that are meant to last three years or more - which surged 3.0 percent last month.
Transportation was buoyed by an 81.0 percent increase in aircraft orders. Boeing (BA.N) reported on its website that it
had received 59 orders last month, up from 29 aircraft orders in September. Orders for automobiles and parts fell 2.9 percent.
(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci; ((Lucia.Mutikani@thomsonreuters.com; 1 202 898 8315; Reuters; Messaging: lucia.mutikani.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)))
