US factory orders up 1.9 percent in April, best in 6 months

In this Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, photo, Boeing 737-800 airplanes are on the assembly line at Boeing's 737 assembly facility in Renton, Wash. On Friday, June 3, 2016, the Commerce Department reports on U.S. factory orders for April. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) In this Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, photo, Boeing 737-800 airplanes are on the assembly line at Boeing's 737 assembly facility in Renton, Wash. On Friday, June 3, 2016, the Commerce Department reports on U.S. factory orders for April. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

By Associated Press June 3, 2016 2 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Orders to U.S. factories increased by the largest amount in six months but much of the strength came from a rise in demand for commercial aircraft.

A key category that tracks business investment plans fell.

Factory orders increased 1.9 percent in April, the biggest gain since a 2.4 percent rise in October, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Orders had been up 1.7 percent in March after having fallen in February.

Demand in a category that serves as a proxy for business investment spending declined 0.6 percent after a small 0.3 percent increase in March and a 2.1 percent February decline.

Manufacturing has been hurt in the past year by a big plunge in investment spending in the oil industry and weakness in exports, which reflect a global slowdown and the strong dollar.