-
Autos lift US factory goods orders in July
New orders for U.S. factory goods rose for a second straight month in July on strong demand for automobiles, which could help to keep manufacturing supported as it deals with a strong dollar and softening global demand. The Commerce Department said on Wednesday new orders for manufactured goods increased 0.4 percent after an upwardly revised 2.2 percent rise in June. Factory activity has been hobbled by a strong dollar and spending cuts in the energy sector after last year's sharp plunge in crude oil prices. Tepid global demand is also hurting manufacturing, which accounts for about 12 percent of the domestic ... (full story)