Orders for U.S. durable goods rose in February, the fourth monthly gain in the last five and spurred by demand for cars, computers and capital equipment. Bookings for goods meant to last at least three years advanced 2.2 percent, less than projected after a revised 3.6 percent decline the prior month, data from the Commerce Department showed today in Washington. Economists forecast a 3 percent gain, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey. Corporate equipment upgrades and consumer purchases of new cars are bolstering production, prompting factories to hire and keeping the industry a source of ... (full story)