Mumbai, Jan. 29 -- A report released by the Commerce Department on Tuesday unexpectedly showed a steep drop by new orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods in the month of December amid a nosedive by orders for transportation equipment.
The Commerce Department said durable goods orders plunged by 2.2 percent in December after tumbling by a revised 2.0 percent in November.
The unexpected decrease by durable goods orders came as orders for transportation equipment dove by 7.4 percent in December after plunging by 5.4 percent in November. Orders for non-defense aircraft and parts led the way lower, plummeting by 45.7 percent.
However, excluding the steep drop by orders for transportation equipment, durable goods orders rose by 0.3 percent...