December 23, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 01, 1427

WASHINGTON, Dec 22: Orders for US durable goods rebounded 1.9 per cent in November following a sharp drop in the prior month, as transportation equipment orders surged, the Commerce Department said on Friday.

The rebound was better than most Wall Street analysts' forecasts that durable goods orders would rise 1.5 per cent in November. Orders had plummeted 8.2 per cent in October.

Transportation equipment orders rebounded 9.4 per cent last month after dropping a hefty 21.3 per cent in the prior month.

Excluding the volatile transport sector, durable goods orders in November were up 1.1 per cent. Orders excluding the defense sector increased 0.6 per cent.

Orders for big-ticket “durable” items such as planes, cars and household appliances were up 7.6 per cent on the year, the report showed.

Commercial aircraft orders meanwhile rose 7.2 per cent in November, after falling 44.4 per cent in October.

Military aircraft orders surged while automobile orders cooled.

Orders for military aircraft soared 40 per cent in November after spiking 25 per cent in October, while automobile orders rose 0.2 per cent in November after rising 1.7 per cent in the prior month. —AFP