U.S. Durable Goods Orders and Housing Starts Rebound in March

From economics.bmo.com

Surging capital goods orders and housing starts in March suggest the U.S. economy strengthened meaningfully in the first quarter. Durable goods orders jumped 0.8% in March following a 1.2% decline the prior month, topping expectations. But the highlight was a 3.3% spike (the largest in nearly six years) in nondefence capital goods orders excluding aircraft after an upwardly-revised 1.6% leap the prior month. The increase was broadly based though led by computers and electronic products (3.7%). Nondefence shipments of capital goods (including aircraft) rose a more moderate 0.5% after a modest decline in February, but ... (full story)