durable goods

A monthly economic report produced by the U.S. Commerce Department that tracks new orders received by manufacturers of durable goods, such as machinery and aircraft. Durable goods are those products that are expected to last more than one year, in contrast to non-durable goods such as food items, clothing, and consumer-disposable products. The durable goods report differentiates between spending that is connected to military and non-military orders. It also tracks sector spending, such as technology. Economists and investors look at the report to get a sense of how the economy is performing: If durable goods orders are strong, then often the economy is doing well.