US factory orders rise

Orders to U.S. factories rose more than expected in June, the government reported Tuesday, indicating strengthening in manufacturing activity.
The Commerce Department said that new orders for manufactured goods rose 1.1 percent in June after a 0.6 decline in the previous month. The increase in June was the largest since July 2013.
There was an 8.4 percent increase in demand for commercial aircraft, a 3.3 increase in orders for non-defense goods, a 2.9 increase in orders for machinery, a 1.7 jump in iron and steel mills, and orders for computers and electronic goods were up 2.9 percent.
Factory orders excluding military hardware rose 1 percent in June, but up 2.5 percent over the past year. Shipments rose to 0.5 percent and the inventories-to-shipment ratio remained at 1.31 percent.
The 1.1 percent increase in new orders for manufactured goods, and unfilled orders at factories rose 1 percent.