The Wall Street Journal-20080205-Economic Snapshot- Factories Remain Solid as Orders Increase

Return to: The_Wall_Street_Journal-20080205

Economic Snapshot: Factories Remain Solid as Orders Increase

Full Text (101  words)

Orders at U.S. manufacturers accelerated for the fourth month in a row in December, suggesting the economic slowdown has yet to hit factories hard.

The Commerce Department reported that orders for manufactured goods rose 2.3% in December from the previous month, following a revised 1.7% in November. New orders for durable goods -- items intended to last three years or longer -- rose 5.0%, slightly slower than initial estimates. Orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft, a closely watched gauge of business capital spending, rose 4.5%.

Orders for nondurable goods dropped 0.4% from the month before, after rising 3.0% in November.