File image of shoppers looking at durable goods appliances at a Home Depot store in New York
Shoppers look at appliances at a Home Depot store in New York. REUTERS

U.S. Durable goods orders rose 3.3 percent in April as companies invested in aircraft and auto equipment, the U.S. Commerce Department said on Friday.

Economists polled by Bloomberg had expected orders to rise 1.5 percent following a previously reported 5.7 percent decrease in March.

Orders excluding transportation equipment rose 1.3 percent after contracting a revised 1.7 percent decline in March. Economists predicted only a 0.5 percent gain.