Orders for U.S. durable-goods orders unexpectedly fell for the first time in three months in November amid a plunge in orders for computers, communications equipment and aircraft.

The November durable-goods report showed decreases across the board. Orders dropped 3.1% to $180.1 billion, the Commerce Department said.

Economists had expected another gain after strong manufacturing surveys and advances in industrial production for the month.

The overall decrease in orders, on big-ticket items designed to last at least three years, was the largest monthly decline since a 6% drop in September 2002.

In a separate release, the U.S. Labor Department reported that jobless claims edged down by 1,000 to 353,000 in the week ended Saturday.

The four-week average, which smooths out weekly fluctuations, slipped by 250 to 361,750 from a revised 362,000. Economists had expected claims to fall by 3,000.