Big-Ticket Factory Orders Hit All-Time High

Washington Post/AP ^ | 01/26/2006 | Martin Crutsinger

[Phantom Lord]

WASHINGTON -- Orders to American factories for big-ticket manufactured goods posted a third consecutive increase in December, closing out a record year for the nation's factories.

The Commerce Department reported that orders for durable goods rose by 1.3 percent in December to $228.1 billion as demand for military aircraft, machinery and autos all posted strong gains.

[Phantom Lord]

Damn you Herbert Hoover!

[claudiustg]

---The Commerce Department reported that orders for durable goods rose by 1.3 percent in December to $228.1 billion as demand for military aircraft, machinery and autos all posted strong gains.---

Then why are Ford and GM laying off workers and closing plants?

[Phantom Lord]

Then why are Ford and GM laying off workers and closing plants?

I suspect the auto demand is for foreign cars built in America.

[1rudeboy]

Then why are Ford and GM laying off workers and closing plants?

Because they suck.

[sitetest]

Now wait a minute. This isn't possible!!

Everyone knows that America doesn't manufacture anything anymore.

[SoFloFreeper]

Hoover Economy Alert!

[ARCADIA]

Everyone knows that America doesn't manufacture anything anymore.

What makes you think any of this will be "manufactured" here. Even if it is assembled here, most of it is manufactured elsewhere.

[1rudeboy]

What makes you think any of this will be "manufactured" here.

Well, let see. [counting off fingers]
Increasing GDP figures, increasing domesting manufacturing output, historically low unemployment figures . . . .

[1rudeboy]

More economic news, and the responses from Mt. Doom.

[Toddsterpatriot]

What makes you think any of this will be "manufactured" here. Even if it is assembled here, most of it is manufactured elsewhere.

I read the entire article and it didn't say anything about this. Maybe you have a source?

[Mase]

From the article:

In December, the strength was led by a 6.5 percent jump in demand for machinery. Transportation posted a solid gain of 1.9 percent as demand for new cars and trucks shot up by 6.6 percent...

The category that covers non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft was up by a strong 3.5 percent in December following much smaller gains in November and October, indicating that businesses are boosting their investment plans.

Analysts are looking for manufacturing to be a source of strength this year, spurred by increased investment by businesses to expand and modernize their operations.

Looks like there won't be any doom today. Maybe we'll have doom tomorrow.

[Lazamataz]

Looks like there won't be any doom today. Maybe we'll have doom tomorrow.

The official LazamaForecast:

Lightly doomy this afternoon, with increasing despair all day. Extremely doomy until 6:00AM, until the high employment system moves in. Decreasing doom all tomorrow, with scattered angst.

[MNJohnnie]

It's all Bush's Fault!!!!

[MNJohnnie]

Then why are Ford and GM laying off workers and closing plants?

It's called Technology. With advances in Robotics you do not need as many people to produce the cars. Plants age, they need to be upgraded. It's called CAPITALISM. It is a DYNAMIC not STATIC world. The Economic Isolationsist should take some basic Econ classes. Their Ecoonomic ignorance is appaling.

[MNJohnnie]

"if it is assembled here, most of it is manufactured elsewhere."

Read the story. AMERICAN Factories. What PART of that do you Economic Ignorants REFUSE to understand????? That right CLING to your delusions IGNORE THE FACTS.

[MNJohnnie]

Someone put Willie Green on suicide watch. Once again his delusions about the economy are nuked by the facts.

[Phantom Lord]

Don't worry, we have dispatched men in white coats to your location to take care of you in your emotionally damaged state due to this positive economic news.

[ARCADIA]

Read the story. AMERICAN Factories.

Which means what exactly? Are you suggesting that they directly generate 100% of the cost that goes into these products? Are the engines produced in the US, or the transmissions, or the electronics; do they import steel, plastics, fastners, sub-assemblies and other finishing goods?

[MNJohnnie]

That's right, cling to your Economic Ignornace. Ignore the facts. Pathetic.

[TChris]

Then why are Ford and GM laying off workers and closing plants?

Because of the cushy pensions, lifetime health insurance for retirees and astonishingly high wages for low-skill jobs.

Oh, and they really should have listened to Deming. Japan did, so they make better cars.