Slide in Factory Orders Ends

Orders to U.S. factories for durable manufactured goods rose 1% in April, the first increase in three months, the government reported today.

The Commerce Department said orders for durable items, expected to last more than three years, totaled $100.7 billion in April, up $1 billion from March. Orders had fallen 2.7% in March and 2.8% in February. Monthly orders have shown little strength since reaching a record high of $104.5 billion in March, 1984.