new durable goods orders fell 0.4% in Oct - expected was 0.5% increase

[papau]

The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that new orders for durable goods (where durable goods are defined as the more costly manufactured products expected to last at least three years) sufferred a decreased by 0.4 percent in October from September, rather than the performance expected by economists who had forecast a 0.5 percent increase in durable-goods orders for October.

Weak areas seemed to be automobiles, computers, electrical equipment and primary metals (steel).




http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=568&ncid=749&e=1&u=/nm/20041124/bs_nm/economy_dc

Durable Goods Orders, Jobless Claims Slip
By Tim Ahmann

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Orders for long-lasting U.S.-made goods slipped 0.4 percent in October, instead of being up 0.5 percent as economists had predicted, but new claims for jobless aid shrank last week, government reports showed on Wednesday.

[Barkley]

1. Is the production of military weapons included in durable goods?

If so, the non-military production/ private production is probably more negative.

[papau]

3. YES

:-)

[MrUnderhill]

5. And the NON military decline was something like 3.5%

right?

[pk_du]

2. and think how bad that number would be if

a) Greenspan hadnt kept Interest Rates ridiculously low for all of Bu$h's pResidency.

b) The dollar hadnt been at record lows for months - helping exports

[one_true_leroy]

4. the only thing more suprising than exit polls...

economic indicators!

[struggle4progress]

6. Bushista policy has really f*cked the economy. eom