US core capital goods orders fall in November

[WASHINGTON] A gauge of US business investment plans fell in November and the prior month's increase was revised sharply lower as the drag on manufacturing from a strong dollar and spending cuts in the energy sector showed little sign of abating.

The Commerce Department said on Wednesday non-defence capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, dropped 0.4 per cent last month.

These so-called core capital goods orders rose by a revised 0.6 per cent in October. They were previously reported to have risen 1.3 per cent.

Manufacturing, which accounts for 12 per cent of the economy, has also been hit by efforts by businesses to reduce an inventory bloat, which has curtailed new orders growth.

The dollar has gained almost 20 per cent against the currencies of the United States' main trading partners over the last 18 months.

Plunging crude oil prices, which on Monday plumbed their lowest levels since 2004, have put pressure on oilfield services firms like Schlumberger and Halliburton, forcing them to slash capital spending budgets.

A survey early this month showed manufacturing contracted in November for the first time in three years. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast core capital goods orders dipping 0.1 per cent.

Core capital goods shipments fell 0.5 per cent last month after October's downwardly revised 1.0 per cent drop.

Shipments of these goods are used to calculate equipment spending in the government's gross domestic product measurement. They were previously reported to have declined 0.5 per cent in October.

Orders for durable goods, items ranging from toasters to aircraft that are meant to last three years or more, were unchanged last month after an unrevised 2.9 per cent increase in October.

REUTERS