Orders for durable goods unexpectedly slumped in December by the most in five months, reflecting a broad-based retreat that raises the risk business investment will cool in early 2014. Bookings for goods meant to last at least three years dropped 4.3 percent after a 2.6 percent gain in November that was smaller than previously reported, a Commerce Department report showed today in Washington. The median estimate of 82 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 1.8 percent advance. Orders for non-military capital goods excluding aircraft also declined. Today’s report is the first to indicate that the slowdown in ... (full story)