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US factory orders up 2.7 percent in October

FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, file photo, Barbara Taylor examines a spool of thread made from recycled plastic bottles at the Repreve Bottle Processing Center, part of the Unifi textile company, in Yadkinville, N.C. On Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, the Commerce Department reports on U.S. factory orders for October. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File) FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, file photo, Barbara Taylor examines a spool of thread made from recycled plastic bottles at the Repreve Bottle Processing Center, part of the Unifi textile company, in Yadkinville, N.C. On Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, the Commerce Department reports on U.S. factory orders for October. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

By Associated Press December 6, 2016 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Orders to U.S. factories rose in October by the largest amount in 16 months but a key category that tracks business investment posted an anemic gain.

The Commerce Department says factory orders increased 2.7 percent in October, the best showing since a 2.9 percent rise in June 2015. The strength came from a big 93.8 percent surge in the volatile category of commercial aircraft. A category that serves as a proxy for business investment edged up just 0.2 percent following a 1.5 percent drop in September.

U.S. manufacturers have struggled for much of this year, having to deal with the impact of a strong dollar, which makes their exports more expensive in overseas markets, and big cutbacks in investment spending by energy companies in the wake of falling oil prices.