In Boost For Economy, Companies Spend On Equipment

JEANNINE AVERSA

WASHINGTON (AP) — Businesses are finally willing to spend more money on equipment, a healthy sign for the economic recovery.

For the first time in nearly two years, companies ponied up more money for a category called "equipment and software" in the third quarter of the year.

It isn't a huge growth rate — just 1.1 percent, according to the government's report last week on U.S. economic growth. Still, equipment and software are a broad and important category of items made by such companies as Deere & Co., EMC Corp. and General Electric Co. It includes computers, software, medical equipment, industrial engines, autos, planes, furniture and farm machinery. ...