Factory Orders Gain in December

Factory orders rose 0.2% in December, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The increase followed a 1.3% increase in November that was greater than originally reported.

Economists had forecast a 0.5% decline for December, Bloomberg reported.

Durable goods orders, which make up just over half of all orders, dropped 2.3%.

Capital goods orders including computers but excluding aircraft and military orders rose 1.9%.

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