WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) – U.S. factory orders rose 1.3% in November to mark the fourth straight increase, reflecting strong demand for manufactured goods. That was a touch better than the 1.1% forecast of economists polled by MarketWatch. Orders for October were also revised to show a 0.4% gain instead of a 0.1% decline, the government said Friday. Business investment softened in November, however, after a series of strong gains. The dropoff might just prove temporary, though. Recently enacted tax cuts will make it cheaper for businesses to invest starting in 2018.
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