Orders for US durable goods slipped unexpectedly in August as civilian aircraft demand plunged, but beat forecasts once transportation was stripped out, government data showed today.
The Commerce Department said orders for big-ticket items meant to last at least three years fell 0.5 per cent after gaining an upwardly revised 1.8 per cent in July.
July orders were revised from a gain of 1.7 per cent.
Financial markets saw the report as mixed, with the dollar falling against the euro as dealers focused on some of the more subdued components that indicated businesses remain wary about jacking up investment.
US 10-year Treasury bond prices dipped but then edged up slightly.
Wall Street had forecast orders would stay flat overall and rise 1.0 per cent excluding the highly volatile transportation component.