August Factory Orders Drop 0.8%

Factory orders fell 0.8%% in August, the first decline after four months of increases, the Commerce Department said Friday.

The increase followed a revised 1.4% increase in July that was higher than originally reported.

Economists had forecast that factory orders would not change in August, Bloomberg reported.

Durable goods orders, which make up slightly more than half of orders, fell 2.6%, the biggest drop since January.

Excluding transportation orders, which tend to be volatile, orders rose 0.4%. Transportation orders fell 9.1%, led by a 43% decline in commercial aircraft and parts. Auto orders climbed 2%.

The trucking industry relies on factory orders and shipments for much of its business.