Factory Orders Increase in June

Washington, DC, Aug. 2, 2013 -- Factory orders rose 1.5% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $496.7 billion, the Commerce Department said.

In addition, May's orders were revised to show a 3.0% increase, up from  the previously reported 2.1% increase.

Orders in June were helped by a 12% increase in demand for transportation equipment.

Excluding the volatile transportation category, orders declined 0.4% after rising 1.0% in May. Unfilled orders for factory goods jumped 2.1%, the largest increase since December 2007.