Factory Orders Rise 0.2% in February

.S. factory orders rose 0.2% in February following a decline the previous month, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

The gain to $401.9 billion followed a revised 3.9% drop in January that had been reported originally as a 4.5% decline.

Economists had forecast a rise of 1.3%, Bloomberg reported.

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

Booking for durable goods, which account for just over half of total orders, rose 2.7% after an 8.9% drop in January. Non-durables orders dropped 12%.

Machinery orders fell 6.7%, while automobiles and auto parts orders fell 3.4% after falling 3.3% a month earlier.