Durable Goods Orders Climb

Orders for durable goods, items meant to last at least three years, jumped 1.3% last month, after increasing a revised 1.3% in June, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. The July gain partly reflected stronger demand for aircraft.

Transportation orders rose 3.1% in July, the largest gain since February, on a 28 percent rise in civilian aircraft orders.

A barometer of business-equipment spending -- orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft -- climbed by 2.6%

Orders for machinery and primary and fabricated metals rose, while demand for computers and appliances waned.