The Commerce Department said Monday that factory orders increased 1.7 percent in September from August. That followed a 0.1 percent decline in August and a 2.8 percent plunge in July.
The September gain was driven by a 57.7 percent jump in demand for aircraft.
But so-called core capital goods, which include machinery and electronics, fell 1.3 percent in September. And demand for machinery plummeted 23.6 percent, with big declines in construction machinery, electric turbines and generators.
The decline suggests businesses may have been worried about the economy before the 16-day partial government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1.
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Economists pay close attention to core capital goods. They are viewed as a better gauge of companies' plans to invest because they exclude more volatile orders for aircraft and defense equipment. The decline was the second in three months and points to weaker activity at factories in the July-September quarter.
Orders for durable goods, items expected to last at least three years, increased 3.8 percent in September, largely on the airplane gains. The big rise in demand for aircraft helped offset a 0.7 percent dip in demand for autos and auto parts. That decline is expected to be temporary given the strength in auto sales this year.
Demand for non-durable goods, such as chemicals, paper and food, edged down 0.2 percent.
Many analysts forecast weaker economic growth in the second half of the year. They are predicting growth at an annual rate of around 1.8 percent in the July-September quarter and roughly 2 percent in the October-December quarter. Both rates would be lower than the 2.5 percent growth pace in the April-June quarter.
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