WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Business orders at U.S. factories rose modestly in November, the Department of Commerce said Monday.
Factory orders for U.S. manufactured goods rose 1.8 percent in the month or by $8.8 billion to $497.9 billion.
The department's Census Bureau News reported new orders, up for two of the past three months, were at the highest level since 1992, when accounting rules changed to fit North American Industry Classification System standards.
Fresh orders for transportation equipment, up for three of the past four months, rose by $6.2 billion or 8.3 percent to $81.1 billion For durable goods, with orders also up for three of the past four months, orders in November rose by $8.1 billion or 3.4 percent, to $241.6 billion.
Fresh orders for non-durable goods -- items not expected to last for three years -- rose by $800 million or 0.3 percent to $256.3 billion.
Shipments of durable goods rose 1.8 percent or by $4.1 billion to $238.3 billion, climbing for the fourth consecutive month. Inventories of durable goods rose by 0.2 percent or by $800 million to $384.3 billion, climbing for the seventh month out of the past eight, the bureau noted.
