DURABLE GOODS
Businesses spent less last month on machinery, computers and most other items, lowering orders for U.S. long-lasting factory goods. The decline suggests companies may have been reluctant to invest during the 16-day partial government shutdown
The Commerce Department said Wednesday that orders for durable goods dropped 2 percent in October from September. That follows a 4.1 percent increase in September from August.
Durable goods are meant to last at least three years.
LEADING INDICATORS
A measure of the U.S. economy’s health increased in October, suggesting consumers and businesses mostly shrugged off the 16-day partial government shutdown.
The Conference Board says its index of leading indicators rose 0.2 percent in October to a reading of 97.5. It was the sixth gain in seven months and followed large gains in the previous two months.
The index is designed to signal economic conditions over the next three to six months. The steady gains point to improvement, although the index is comprised of indicators that have already been released individually.
UNEMPLOYMENT
The number of people applying for U.S. unemployment benefits fell 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 316,000 last week, further evidence of an improving job market.
Here are the states with the biggest decreases in applications. No state reported that benefit applications exceeded 1,000. The state data are for the week ended Nov. 16, one week behind the national figures.
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