Demand for U.S. durable goods fell during May, as commercial aircraft orders plummeted, according to government data released today.

Durable-goods orders fell by 0.3% last month to a seasonally adjusted US$208.67 billion, the U.S. Commerce Department said. Durables had fallen by 4.7% in April, revised from a previously estimated 4.4% decrease.

Orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft – a key measure of business spending — increased by 1%, after falling by 1.9% in April.

The decline in overall orders was slightly smaller than Wall Street expectations. Economists had forecast durable goods falling by 0.5% during May.

The durables report showed transportation orders decreased 2.6% in May, after decreasing 12.7% in April. Orders for commercial planes fell 17.9%, while military aircraft orders increased 26.4%. Motor vehicles and parts rose by 2.5% last month.

Orders for everything but transportation goods increased 0.7%, after a 1% fall in April. Demand increased last month by 2.3% for machinery. Orders fell 1.1% for computers and electronics.

Orders fell by 1.3% for fabricated metals, while orders for primary metals increased 3.5%. Orders for electrical equipment fell by 0.2%. Capital goods orders decreased by 2.4% last month after falling in April by 8.7%. Non-defense capital goods — items meant to last 10 years or longer — fell 1.9% in May.

Defense-related capital goods orders sank by 7.6%, after falling 26.7% in April. Orders for everything except defense goods decreased 0.1% last month, after falling by 3.5% in April. Durable-goods inventories of manufacturers increased 0.4% last month. Unfilled orders rose 0.6%, and shipments increased 2.6%.