Factory orders fell sharply in January

New orders for manufactured goods in January, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $18.9 billion or 4.5 percent to $398.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. Reuters reported that the decline was the biggest since July 2000.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in January, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $22.9 billion or 9.9 percent to $207.8 billion, revised from the previously published 10.2 percent decrease.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $4.0 billion or 2.2 percent to $190.5 billion.

Transportation equipment orders fell 31 percent as orders for nondefense aircraft and parts plunged 68.3 percent. Civilian aircraft orders had slipped 2.8 percent in December, following a 139.4 percent increase in November.

Machinery orders declined 2.4 percent in January.