Associated Press (06/02/15) Josh Boak
U.S. factory orders fell in April, an indication that manufacturers are struggling amid cheaper oil and a strong dollar. Orders declined 0.4%—the eighth decline in nine months—according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Orders for durable goods fell 1%, and demand for nondurable goods rose just 0.2%.
Meanwhile, there are indications that manufacturers have responded to the changing conditions. Energy firms reacted quickly to oil prices falling below $60 a barrel, and the impact of the sector’s layoffs and canceled orders has largely been processed by the economy.