Factory Orders Rise in November

Factory orders increased 1.8% in November, the biggest gain in four months, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

The increase followed a revised 0.2% decline in October that was originally reported as a 0.4% decrease.

The November gain was slightly lower than economists’ forecasts of a 2% increase, Bloomberg reported.

Capital goods orders excluding aircraft and military orders, a measure of future business investment, declined 1.2% following a 0.9% decline the previous month.

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