Durable goods orders surge

Consistent with the solid stream of positive economic news we have been seeing for the last several months. Question to ponder: How long has it been since you've heard a prominant Democrat even reference the economy? That says it all.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders for U.S.-made durable goods surged a much larger-than-expected 4.4 percent in November on a jump in civilian aircraft but non-transportation orders slid as defense outlays tumbled, a government report showed Friday.

It was the largest rise in overall durable goods orders since May. Economists had forecast orders for these expensive items built to last three years or more to rise 1 percent and had looked for orders outside transportation to climb 1 percent.

October orders were revised upward to an increase of 3 percent from a previously reported 2.2 percent gain.