February durable-goods orders up less-than-forecast 2.2%; fourth monthly increase in five

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)
Orders for long-lasting U.S. goods climbed 2.2% in February amid strong demand for a broad variety of commercial and military-related products, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday
It was the fourth increase in five months
Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected orders to rise by 2.9%
Bookings jumped 5.7% for heavy machinery, 6% for commercial aircraft, 2.7% for computers, 1.6% for autos and 1.3% for primary metals
Defense orders were also strong
The only category to report a decline was electrical equipment and appliances
Excluding the volatile transportation sector, orders rose 1.6%
Orders minus defense increased 1.7%
Orders for core capital goods, which exclude defense and transportation, increased 1.2% last month Shipments of core capital goods, a number used to help calculate quarterly gross domestic product, climbed 1.4% in February
The decline in durable-goods orders in January, meanwhile, was revised down to 3.6% from 3.7%.