US factory orders up record 10.5 pct. in July

WASHINGTON (AP) — Business orders for U.S. factory goods shot up by a record amount in July, reflecting a surge in demand in the volatile category of commercial aircraft.

But outside of transportation, orders actually fell slightly during the month although the setback was expected to be temporary.

Factory orders rose 10.5 percent in July, the biggest one-month increase on records going back to 1992, the Commerce Department reported today. Orders for civilian jetliners rose fourfold. But excluding transportation, orders edged down 0.8 percent and a key category that serves as a proxy for business investment plans fell 0.7 percent.

Manufacturing has been a source of strength this year, helped by robust demand for new cars, other consumer items and business equipment. Economists expect that strength to continue.

The report showed that durable goods, items expected to last at least three years, were up 22.6 percent in July, unchanged from the estimate in a preliminary report last week. Orders for nondurable goods such as paper, chemicals and food were down 0.9 percent in July after a 0.4 percent increase in June.