Durable Goods Orders Surprise Everyone

Manufacturing momentum is accelerating again. While civilian aircraft added huge lift to December durable goods orders, the gains were broad based. New factory orders for durable goods in December jumped a whopping monthly 4.6 percent, following a boost of 0.7 percent in November. 

The market forecast was for only a 1.6 percent increase. The transportation component on the index spiked 11.9 percent. Excluding transportation, durable goods orders increased 1.3 percent, following a rise of 1.2 percent in November. The consensus called for a 0.4 percent rise in orders excluding transportation.

Outside of transportation, the index increases were led by primarily metals, up 3.6 percent, and computers & electronics, up 3.3 percent. Also rising were fabricated metals and machinery.