WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - New orders for core U.S.-made capital goods rose more than expected in December, and exports of those products also climbed, reinforcing economists' expectations that business spending on equipment remained strong in the fourth quarter.

The U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday that orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a closely watched indicator of business spending, rose 0.6 percent after an upwardly revised 0.8 percent increase in November.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast that core capital goods orders would rise 0.4 percent, following a similar increase in November. Exports of core capital goods jumped 0.9 percent after rising 0.2 percent in November.