U.S. Class 8 truck orders continued to slump in May, dropping 23% from year-ago levels and declining for the fifth consecutive month as economic, financial and regulatory uncertainty dampened fleets’ buying decisions, analysts said.

Trailer orders staged a comeback last month after three straight monthly declines, climbing 12% above both the year-earlier month and March, as fleets stepped up the pace of replacing older equipment, ACT Research reported.

Durable goods orders rose 0.2% in April following a revised 3.7% drop the previous month, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

Truck producers received 17,200 new orders in April for Class 8 vehicles, a 55% drop from 38,094 in April 2011, ACT Research Co. reported.

Durable goods orders fell 4.2% in March, the biggest drop since January 2009, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

Factory orders for heavy-duty trucks declined for the third-straight month in March, sparking discussion over whether interest in new North American trucks is waning or if the industry is temporarily at rest.

Factory orders rose 1.3% in February, the third increase in four months, the Commerce Department reported.

Durable goods orders increased 2.2% in February, the fourth gain in five months, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

Factory orders decreased 1% in January, the first decline in three months, the Commerce Department reported.

Durable goods orders fell 4% in January, the biggest drop in three years, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.