Factory Orders Rise for a Third Straight Month

February 3, 2006 12:00 PM, EST

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actory orders rose for a third straight month, climbing 1.1% in December, led by an increase in automobile orders, the Commerce Department said Friday.

The gain followed a 3.3% surge in November and slightly exceeded economists’ forecasts of a 1.1% gain, 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 1.8% after rising 5.3% in October.

Automobiles and auto parts orders rose 6.7% after falling 7.4% a month earlier.