By Rex Nutting
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- A big drop in volatile aircraft orders masked a broad-based increase in demand for other U.S.-made durable goods in November, the Commerce Department estimated Thursday. Orders for durable goods rose a seasonally adjusted 0.2% in November, held back by a massive 32.6% drop in aircraft bookings. Excluding transportation goods, orders rose 2%. Orders were stronger in every major industrial category outside of transportation. Orders for core capital equipment goods - a gauge of business capital investment - jumped 2.9%. Total orders were weaker than the 0.6% increase expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch. Orders are up in two of the past three months and are up 3.8% since June.
