Article

Core capital goods orders in the US rose 0.6% in December, following a 0.8% increase in November, according to the Commerce Department. Shipments of these goods surged 0.9%. The growth reflects strong business spending, bolstered by an artificial intelligence investment boom.

Economists forecast a 3% annualized growth rate for the fourth quarter. However, durable goods orders fell 1.4% due to a significant decline in non-defense aircraft orders. In the housing sector, overall starts increased 6.2% to 1.404 million units, with single-family housing starts rising 4.1%. The economic outlook remains optimistic despite challenges from tariffs and rising construction costs.