Durable-goods orders rise 3.8% in November (by Ruth Mantell)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Led higher by transportation equipment, orders for long-lasting U.S. goods rose 3.8% in November, the largest gain since July, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected durable-goods orders to rise 3.6% due to aircraft, among other items. In November, transportation-equipment orders rose 14.7%, with a 73.3% gain for nondefense aircraft and parts. Excluding transportation, durable-goods orders rose 0.3% in November. Orders for core capital goods, which exclude defense and aircraft, fell 1.2% in November. Shipments of durable goods fell 0.4% in November. Unfilled orders rose 1.3% in November, and inventories gained 0.6%. In October, there was no growth in durable-goods orders.