BUSINESS BRIEFING
Times Wire Reports
Orders to U.S. factories rebounded in September, helped by strength in autos, heavy machinery and military aircraft.
The fifth increase in six months bolsters hopes that a revival in manufacturing will help support an overall economic recovery. The worry is that if consumer spending falters in coming months, orders will slump again.
The Commerce Department said orders rose 0.9% in September, better than the 0.8% increase economists had expected. Demand was up for both durable goods and nondurable goods such as chemicals and energy products.
