P.M. BRIEFING : Big-Ticket Orders Edge Up in March

Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket durable goods rose a moderate 0.8% in March after two months of big declines, reflecting a rebound in orders for transportation equipment, the government said today.

Orders rose to a seasonally adjusted $124.9 billion last month after dropping 3.6% in January and 2.8% in February, the first back-to-back declines in three years, the Commerce Department reported.

Excluding the volatile transportation category, which rose 10.4% but is subject to wide swings depending on when contracts are signed, orders were down for the third straight month in March, declining 2.8%.

A variety of government reports on economic activity this year, including those covering durable goods, have suggested that the economy may be slowing down as the expansion extends into its seventh year.