June 27, 2007 (LPAC)--New orders for U.S.-made manufactured goods made to last at least three years fell 2.8% in May, a larger drop than expected.

The fall in durable goods orders was led by a dramatic 22.7% plunge in orders for civilian aircraft, the Commerce Department reported. Non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, interpreted as a sign of business investment, tumbled 3%, the biggest decline since January.