Durable goods orders mixed, jobless claims rise

Source: Reuters

Orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods excluding transportation unexpectedly rose last month as did a gauge of business spending plans, but that will probably not change views that factory activity is slowing.

Other data on Thursday showed an unexpected increase in the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits last week. The run-up in claims, however, likely does not signal a fundamental shift in labor market conditions.

The Commerce Department said on durable goods orders excluding transportation rose 1.1 percent, the largest increase since May, after falling 1.9 percent in December.

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Outside these three components, details of the report were weak, with declines in orders for machinery, primary metals, electrical equipment, appliances and components, and transportation equipment.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/27/us-usa-economy-idUSBREA1Q16020140227