Durable goods
A sign displays the price of a 65-inch television lined up with countless other televisions in a Costco warehouse on Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Loen Tree, Colo. The Commerce Department said Thursday, June 24 that growth in the gross domestic product, the country’s total output of goods and services, was unchanged from two previous estimates.(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
US economy grows 6.4% in Q1, and it's likely just the start

By Martin Crutsinger Jun. 24, 2021 09:58 AM EDT

In this aerial photo, a General Motors assembly plant is seen at top right while mid-sized pickup trucks and full-size vans currently produced at the plant are seen in a parking lot outside Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Wentzville, Mo. The Commerce Department reported Thursday, May 27, that orders for factory goods meant to last at least three years fell 1.3% in April after rising 1.3% in March. Transportation orders skidded 6.7%. Excluding transportation, which can be volatile from month to month, durable goods orders were up 1% in April. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
U.S. durable goods orders drop 1.3% in April

By Paul Wiseman May. 27, 2021 08:45 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 29, 2020 file photo, worker Javad Memarzadeh, of Needham, Mass., right, dusts washers on a display, at a Home Depot location, in Boston. Orders for big-ticket manufactured goods rebounded 0.5% in March as U.S. factories recovered from frigid February weather disruptions. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Orders for big-ticket manufactured goods rebound in March

By Martin Crutsinger Apr. 26, 2021 10:11 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2020 file photo, a woman carries shopping bags in New York. The nation’s largest retail trade group is forecasting strong retail sales growth in 2021 that could surpass last year's pace as individuals get vaccinated and the economy reopens. The National Retail Federation anticipates that retail sales will grow between 6.5% and 8.2% to more than $4.33 trillion this year. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
US consumers rebound to boost spending 2.4% as income jumps

By Martin Crutsinger Feb. 26, 2021 08:42 AM EST

This Oct. 29, 2020 file photo, a passer-by walks past stoves on display at a Home Depot location, in Boston. Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket goods shot up 3.4% in January 2021, pulled up by surge in orders for civilian aircraft. A category that tracks business investment posted a more modest gain, the Commerce Department reported Thursday, Feb. 24. .(AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Orders for U.S. durable goods climb 3.4% in January

By Paul Wiseman Feb. 25, 2021 08:47 AM EST

Worker Javad Memarzadeh, of Needham, Mass., right, dusts washers in a display, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, at a Home Depot location, in Boston. Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticketed manufactured goods rose a moderate 0.9% in November  with a key category that tracks business investment plans showing a gain. The Commerce Department said Wednesday, Dec. 23 that the November gain in orders for durable goods, items expected to last at least three years, followed stronger gains in recent months including a 3.8% rise in October.(AP Photo/Steven Senne)
US durable goods orders show modest 0.2% December gain

By Martin Crutsinger Jan. 27, 2021 08:56 AM EST

Rows of boxed big-screen televisions sit on display at a Costco warehouse in this photograph taken Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, in Sheridan, Colo. Orders for big-ticket manufactured goods slow to modest gain of 1.3% in October indicating economy is slowing. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Slight gain of 1.3% in October for manufactured goods

By Martin Crutsinger Nov. 25, 2020 09:05 AM EST

A sales associate helps customers as they consider the purchase of a big-screen television at a Costco warehouse on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, in Sheridan, Colo. U.S. consumer confidence fell to a reading of 96.1 in November as rising coronavirus cases pushed Americans’ confidence down to the lowest level since August. The Conference Board said the November reading represented a drop from a revised 101.4 in October. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Picture of US economy is worrisome as virus inflicts damage

By Martin Crutsinger And Paul Wiseman Nov. 25, 2020 08:35 AM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2019, file photo, Maurine Carter works on the wiring of a stove in LaFayette, Ga. Orders to American factories for big-ticket goods rebounded last month from a disastrous April as the U.S. economy began to slowly reopen. The Commerce Department said that orders for manufactured goods meant to last at least three years shot up 15.8% in May after plunging 18.1% in April.(Erin O. Smith/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP, File)
Orders for big-ticket manufactured goods jump 7.3% in June

By Martin Crutsinger Jul. 27, 2020 08:52 AM EDT

Shoppers, left, head to the entrance as a sign on the outside wall invites customers to shop inside a Best Buy store Wednesday, June 24, 2020 in Richfield, Minn. as restrictions due to the coronavirus have eased in Minnesota. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
US consumer spending up 8.2%, partly erasing record plunge

By Martin Crutsinger Jun. 26, 2020 08:38 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2019, file photo, Maurine Carter works on the wiring of a stove in LaFayette, Ga. Orders to American factories for big-ticket goods rebounded last month from a disastrous April as the U.S. economy began to slowly reopen. The Commerce Department said that orders for manufactured goods meant to last at least three years shot up 15.8% in May after plunging 18.1% in April.(Erin O. Smith/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP, File)
Orders for US big-ticket factory goods surge 15.8% in May

By Paul Wiseman Jun. 25, 2020 08:37 AM EDT

A woman walks into a closing Gordmans store, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in St. Charles, Mo. Stage Stores, which owns Gordmans, is closing all its stores and has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
US consumer spending sinks by record 13.6% in face of virus

By Martin Crutsinger May. 29, 2020 09:23 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2020 file photo a worker pushes a cart past refrigerators at a Home Depot store location in Boston. On Thursday, May 28, the Commerce Department releases its April report on durable goods. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Orders for US big-ticket factory goods drop 17.2% in April

By Paul Wiseman May. 28, 2020 08:49 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 16, 2020, filer photo, Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda speaks during a news conference in Tokyo. Japan’s central bank on Monday, April 27, 2020, announced it is making it easier for cash-strapped companies to get funding in response to the growing economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Asian markets gain after Japan central bank boosts aid

By Joe Mcdonald Apr. 27, 2020 12:19 AM EDT

Bill Merkle works on making protective masks in Warren, Mich., Thursday, April 23, 2020. General Motors has about 400 workers at the now-closed transmission plant in suburban Detroit. All over the country, blue-collar and salaried workers have raised their hands to make medical equipment as companies repurpose factories to answer calls for help from beleaguered nurses, doctors and paramedics who are treating patients with the highly contagious new coronavirus COVID-19. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
US factory orders plunge 14.4% as economy grinds to halt

By Martin Crutsinger Apr. 24, 2020 09:45 AM EDT