Factory Orders Increase in November

Washington, DC, Jan. 4, 2012 -- U.S. factory orders increased for the first time in three months in November, according to the Commerce Department.

Orders rose 1.8% in November to $459.18 billion, the Commerce Department said. Economists had forecast a 2.1% jump.

Orders in October fell 0.2%, revised up from a previously estimated decline of 0.4%.

Increased orders for nondefense aircraft helped propel overall growth in the manufacturing sector.

Excluding transportation, factory orders were up 0.3% in November, compared to a 0.4% gain in October.