WASHINGTON — Factory orders retreated 0.1% in February, the first decline since October, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.
Orders excluding transportation increased 0.1% for the month of February and orders excluding military goods rose 0.5%.
Economists expected factory orders would increase 0.5%, according to the median estimate from Thomson Reuters.
Orders for January increased 3.3%, revised higher from the 3.1% increase reported earlier this month.
Excluding transportation, orders also rose 0.7% in January.
