Stocks set to retreat after weak orders report

NEW YORK (AP) — Stock futures are falling today after another disappointing economic report calls into question the pace of recovery.

The Commerce Department says durable goods orders fell 1 percent last month, well short of the 1 percent gain that had been forecast. Excluding the volatile transportation sector, orders dipped 0.6 percent while economists had been expecting a small gain.

The weak report Wednesday follows another drop in consumer confidence a day earlier. Economic data has largely shown a recovery is slowing and growth will remain weak.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are down 20, or 0.2 percent, at 10,474. Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures are down 1.70, or 0.2 percent, at 1,109.20, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are down 3.50, or 0.2 percent, at 1,883.00.