Factory Orders Increase 1.1%

Factory orders jumped 1.1% in April, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

Excluding transportation orders, bookings rose 2.6% for a second straight month, Commerce said.

The April gain followed a revised 1.5% increase March that was bigger than first reported.

The increase was in contrast to economists’ predictions of a 0.1% decline, Bloomberg reported.

Durable goods orders, which make up about half of factory orders, fell by 0.6%. Demand for electrical equipment rose by a record 28%, and machinery demand rose 4.1%.

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