December Factory Orders Decline 3.9%

U.S. factory orders fell 3.9% in December, the fifth consecutive month of decline, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The downturn followed a revised 6.5% decline in November that was more than the 4.6% originally reported.

Economists had forecast a 3.1% decline, Bloomberg reported.

Durable goods orders, which make up about half of factory orders, fell 3%.

For all of 2008, factory orders increase 0.4%, Bloomberg said.

The trucking industry relies on factory orders and shipments for much of its business.