US: Durable Goods Orders Down 5.2% in July vs. -4% Expected

• Durable goods orders in the United States fell in July at a faster rate than expected.
• The Dollar Index remains in positive territory above 103.50.

US durable goods orders fell 5.2%, or $5.2 billion, to $285.9 billion in July, the US Census Bureau reported Thursday. This reading followed the 4.4% increase (revised from +4.7%) in June and was worse than the market forecast for a 4% decline.

“Excluding transportation, new orders increased by 0.5%,” the publication also read. “Excluding defense, new orders were down 5.4%. Transportation equipment, also down after four straight monthly gains, led the decline, $16.4bn, or 14.3%, to $98.7bn.”