Factory orders rose for a fourth consecutive month in December, posting a 2.3%Ìýincrease 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.
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