New orders for long-lasting US manufactured goods edged higher last month and the number of workers filing applications for jobless aid fell last week. The Commerce Department said on Thursday durable goods orders rose 0.3 percent in December. On a bright note, a proxy for business spending plans - non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft - rose a solid 1.3 percent. The Labor Department said initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 8,000 to 470,000 last week.
