WASHINGTON — Factory orders increased 1.2% in April, below economists’ estimates, as orders excluding transportation fell for the first time in nine months, the Commerce Department reported today.
Orders excluding transportation fell 0.5%, the largest decline since March 2009. Orders excluding transportation goods soared in March by 3.8%, the strongest gain in six years.
Economists expected factory orders to increase 1.7% for the month, according to the median estimate from Thomson Reuters.
March factory orders were revised to a 1.7% increase from the 1.1% gain initially reported.
Total durable goods orders increased 2.8%, but durable goods orders excluding transportation fell 1.1%, the first decline since January.
Transportation factory orders increased 15.8% for the month.
