THE ECONOMY

Machine Tool Orders Rise 8% in October: The net increase for U.S. industrial tools reflects a 15.5% surge in orders from domestic companies but a decrease of 22.1% in orders from abroad, the Assn. for Manufacturing Technology trade group reported. The figures compare changes from September. Compared to October, 1994, total orders rose 34.3%. Orders for the first 10 months of 1995 are 12% ahead of a year ago. The group said October has been stronger than most analysts had anticipated. Economists follow orders and shipments of machine tools to gauge the overall economic strength.