Factory Orders Rise for Fourth Straight Month

Factory orders rose for a fourth consecutive month in December, posting a 2.3% increase over the previous month, the Commerce Department said Monday.

The gain was the biggest since July and followed a revised 1.7% gain in November that was more than originally reported, Commerce said.

Excluding transportation orders, bookings rose 0.7%.

The upturn was about in line with economists’ forecasts, Bloomberg reported.

Transportation orders jumped 12%, led by aircraft, but automobile and auto parts orders declined 2.8%.

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