Factory Orders Rise Less Than Expected

Jan. 13, 2005
By John S. McClenahen If 19th Century English novelist Charles Dickens had been forecasting February factory orders, he might have titled his outlook "Great Expectations." Economists were anticipating as much as a 2% gain from January's level. But the ...
ByJohn S. McClenahen If 19th Century English novelist Charles Dickens had been forecasting February factory orders, he might have titled his outlook "Great Expectations." Economists were anticipating as much as a 2% gain from January's level. But the U.S. Commerce Department reported on March 31 that total new orders for manufactured durables and nondurables increased just 0.3% in February, a result better titled "Bleak House." New orders for manufactured durable goods, products that are designed to last three years or more, increased 2.5% to $183.9 billion in February, slightly less than the preliminary estimate. Paced by aircraft and parts, transportation equipment posted the largest sectoral gain among durables in February, increasing 9.6% to $54.3 billion. Indeed, without the transportation sector, new orders for all manufactured goods would have declined 1.2% in February. New orders for nondurables fell 2% to $159.1 billion in February, following five consecutive monthly increases.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Why DataOps may be the key to unlocking the full potential of digital transformation

Nov. 3, 2023
Read the 2023 market survey conducted by IndustryWeek

The Ultimate Ecommerce Excellence Checklist

Oct. 2, 2023
Scaling ecommerce operations is no easy task when your business is moving fast. Assess your current ecommerce maturity level and set optimization priorities with this practical...

7 Crucial Steps to Improve Your OT Security

Oct. 23, 2023
Enhance OT security in manufacturing and production. Uncover the crucial steps to safeguard your operational technology. Protect against evolving threats and bridge the IT-OT ...

3D Printing a More Efficient Factory Floor

Nov. 16, 2023
Today’s additive manufacturing platforms make it simple to print a wide range of high-performing industrial parts as soon as possible and right where you need them — unlocking...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!