Manufacturing activity in the New York region contracted in October for the third straight month, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Monday.

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

U.S. manufacturing activity rose in September from to a three-year low, showing expansion for the month, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday.

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago area contracted for the first time in three years, the Institute for Supply Management-Chicago said Friday.

Large trucks have been excluded from a new Massachusetts law that allows vehicle repair shops to access proprietary manufacturer information.

Factory orders rose 2.8% in July, the biggest gain in a year, the Commerce Department said Friday.

The recent $21 million jury verdict against a leading beverage manufacturer whose employee struck a woman pedestrian while driving a company vehicle sent shock waves through the trucking and fleet industries regarding the potential financial consequences of distracted driving.

U.S. manufacturing activity improved slightly in July but showed contraction for a second straight month, the Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday.

Manufacturing activity in the New York region expanded in July, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Monday.

Factory orders rose 0.7% in May, the first gain in three months, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.