WASHINGTON, DC -- US durable goods orders were unchanged in October, while shipments fell 0.6%, the Department of Commerce said.

The results surprised some analysts, who thought orders would fall after making big gains (9.2% higher, according to revised DoC numbers) in September.

Durable goods order backlogs rose 0.2% for the month.

Computer orders fell 9.3% and communications equipment orders rose 11.4%. Commercial aircraft orders dropped 5.8%. Overall defense orders fell 4.3%, while nondefense capital goods orders rose 0.8% in total, 1.7% excluding aircraft orders.

Inventories were up 0.4% for the month.