Military and Commercial Aircraft Sales Slower

Sales of military and commercial aircraft by U.S. manufacturers are forecast to grow at a slower rate next year, an industry group said on Thursday. The Aerospace Industries Association's annual report forecasts sales by Boeing Co., Lockheed Martin Corp. and others to rise, on average, by about 6 percent to more than $210.6 billion, with commercial planes, engines and other parts leading the way in 2008. The association estimates that 2007 sales climbed 8.5 percent to $198.8 billion. That figure includes $92.5 billion in sales to foreign customers, an increase of $7 billion, or 8.8 percent, from last year's $85 billion, driven by higher demand for commercial aircraft.