WASHINGTON -- Companies pared capital spending on durable goods last month, according to the latest US Commerce Department figures.

Business orders for capital goods fell 8%, Commerce said, the largest drop since January 2009. And while overall orders for manufactured goods rose 0.3% in July, non-aircraft orders fell 3.8%. Commercial aircraft orders rose 76% during the month.

Orders for machinery dropped 15%, the biggest decline on record for that category.

Year to date, orders are up 15.6% year-over-year.

Commerce also revised the June figures, saying overall orders fell 1%, but were up 0.2% excluding the volatile transportation category.