WASHINGTON — Factory orders jumped 3.1% in January on a surge in transportation orders, the Commerce Department reported Friday.
Orders excluding transportation increased 0.7% and durable factory orders excluding transportation goods fell 3.0% for the month, down for the first time in three months.
January transportation orders jumped 27.3% for the month, the strongest gain since September 2006.
Economists had expected factory orders would increase 2.0% for the month.
Orders for December rose 1.2%.
