71.   Companies are importing fewer raw materials because consumers are buying fewer automobiles, electronics, furniture and other durable goods.

72.   Consumer spending, which weakened during the summer, started gaining momentum in the fall, supported by sales of autos and other durable goods, he said.

73.   Copper rose as a jump in demand for durable goods, which often contain large amounts of copper, offset rising inventories.

74.   Demand for durable goods tends to be volatile from month to month because of the erratic pattern of orders for aircraft and defense hardware.

75.   Despite the surprisingly positive news this week, orders for durable goods are still down sharply from a year ago.

76.   Despite the slippage, said Donald Fine, chief market analyst at Chase Asset Management, durable goods orders continue to demonstrate resiliency.

77.   DOW ENDS ITS FOUR-DAY SLIDE Gains in consumer confidence and durable goods orders brought buyers back to Wall Street.

78.   Durable goods are products that are likely to last at least three years.

79.   Durable goods orders, Nov.

80.   Durable goods, the report went on to explain, are things made to last three years or longer.