US factory goods orders rose 2.3 % in August , which represents an 8.6 % year - on - year increase , according to the Department of Commerce . The figure is higher than forecast and the biggest increase for almost a year , with a rise in demand for aircraft helping to boost the figure . Business spending on equipment slowed in the second quarter after growing robustly since the first quarter of 2017. However , there were signs of slowing demand for business equipment , with manufacturing as a whole expected to weaken . Nevertheless , orders for transport equipment were up more than 13 % , while defence aircraft and missiles rose 17 % . Motor vehicle orders rose by 10 % , but machinery , machinery and electronics declined .
US factory goods orders rose 2.3 % in August , which represents an 8.6 % year - on - year increase , according to the Department of Commerce . The figure is higher than forecast and the biggest increase for almost a year , with a rise in demand for aircraft helping to boost the figure . However , there were signs of slowing demand for business equipment , with manufacturing as a whole expected to weaken . Nevertheless , orders for transport equipment were up more than 13 % , while defence aircraft and missiles rose 17 % . Motor vehicle orders rose by 10 % , but machinery , machinery and electronics declined .