Orders for long-lasting durable goods fell in April, but a closely watched proxy of business investment moved higher. And although sales of existing homes declined, consumer sentiment remains strong.
New orders for long-lasting manufactured durable goods jumped more than expected in March, but analysts pointed to some concerns deeper in the Commerce Department report. Separate reports showed improvements in new homes sales as well as in consumer confidence.
Employers continued adding a high-number of non-farm jobs in March while U.S. factory orders increased broadly in February, but the rebound was less than expected, according to two new reports.
Following strong growth last year, business spending on equipment has fallen for the second straight month, according to a new report, while a separate one shows new home sales in the U.S. have slipped again.
The nation’s overall economic performance slowed in the final quarter of last year but turned in better performance for all of 2017 than it did for all of 2016, according to new Commerce Department figures.