Ahead of the Bell: Durable Goods

The Commerce Department is scheduled to release its February report on manufacturers' orders for durable goods at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Orders are expected to have risen 0.7 percent for the month, up from a decrease of 5.1 percent in January, according to a median estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial. Economists' latest estimates ranged from a decrease of 0.5 percent to an increase of 3 percent.

Economists said the increased aircraft orders should offset low demand for other capital equipment.

IFR Markets analysts said the Boeing Co.'s aircraft orders nearly doubled in February "so we'll be disappointed if there isn't at least a positive print in the headline number."

However, economists from consulting firm Global Insight said "little else of significance will likely be positive."

Other industries, including building materials, construction machinery and motor vehicles, are trending downward while profit margins have been squeezed by higher input costs, the firm said.

In January, orders for durable goods plunged, which economists said was evidence of an economy shaken by the housing and credit crises.