US Core Capital Goods Orders Rise 0.6 Percent in February

New orders for key manufactured capital goods in the United States rose more than expected in February, although a significant downward revision to the previous month's data suggests a potential moderation in business spending for the first quarter.

According to the Commerce Department's Census Bureau, orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft—a closely watched proxy for business equipment investment—increased by 0.6%. This figure exceeded the 0.4% gain forecast by economists in a Reuters poll.