Orders for U.S. Capital Goods Rise for Fourth Month in Last Five

Orders for U.S. business equipment climbed in October for the fourth month in the last five and sales also advanced, indicating corporate investment may be starting to thaw.

Bookings for non-military capital goods excluding aircraft -- a proxy for future spending on items like computers, engines and communications gear -- rose 0.4 percent, Commerce Department data showed Wednesday. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 0.3 percent gain. Demand for all durable goods -- items meant to last at least three years -- jumped 4.8 percent on a surge in orders for commercial aircraft.