New orders received by factories fell in June, pulled down by weak demand for transportation equipment, government data showed on Wednesday. The Commerce Department said orders for manufactured goods fell 0.8 percent after a revised 0.6 percent increase in May. Economists had forecast a 0.7 percent decline after a previously reported 0.8 percent rise. Manufacturing has shouldered the economy's recovery and the slowdown in factory orders in June further diminished prospects of a strong and swift step-up in growth after a very weak first half. Data on Monday showed manufacturing activity hit a two-year low in July. ... (full story)