February Factory Orders Fall 0.1%; Ex-Transportation Up 0.1%

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 and orders excluding defense 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 rose 0.7% in January.