Factory orders post 0.7 percent November gain

WASHINGTON – Businesses ordered more factory goods in November, responding to stronger demand from consumers. Excluding a drop in demand for airplanes and autos, factory orders jumped by the largest amount in eight months.

The Commerce Department says that total orders rose 0.7 percent in November, rebounding from a 0.7 percent drop in October. Excluding transportation, orders were up 2.4 percent.

The November increase left total orders at $424.5 billion. Economists consider that a healthy range for manufacturing activity. That's 20.4 percent above the recession low, hit in March 2009.