Posted by Joseph Y. Calhoun, III

Durable goods orders rose in November:

New orders for manufactured durable goods in November increased $0.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $166.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This was the second monthly increase in the last three months. This followed a 0.6 percent October decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 2.0 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased slightly.

Computers and electronic products, also up two of the last three months, had the largest increase, $0.9 billion or 3.7 percent to $25.7 billion.

The ex transportation number is pretty impressive. Capital goods orders followed a similar pattern. Ex defense capital goods orders were down slightly. New orders for capital goods ex defense and ex transportation were up 2.9%. That bodes well for capital spending going forward.