Factory Orders Drop in August

Factory orders dropped 5.2% in August, the biggest decrease since January 2009, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The decrease followed a revised 2.6% increase in July, a smaller rise than originally reported.

Economists had forecast a 5.9% decrease, Bloomberg reported.

Orders excluding transportation equipment increased 0.7%, while durable goods orders dropped 13.2%.

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