Factory Orders Decline in August

Washington, DC, Oct. 4, 2011 -- Factory orders declined in August for the second time in three months, according to the Commerce Department.

The government said that orders for manufactured goods decreased 0.2% after a downwardly revised 2.1% increase in July.

Economists had forecast orders to be unchanged.

The Commerce Department report showed orders excluding transportation decreased for the first time in six months, falling 0.2%.