On a strong increase in demand for defense equipment, orders for American-made goods increased 1.8 percent in February, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The increase is the first after six consecutive months of decline. Excluding the 36 percent increase in defense goods, orders rose 0.9 percent.
Excluding transportation goods, orders rose 1.6 percent. Orders for nondefense, non-aircraft capital equipment jumped 7.1 percent.
