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Orders for US durable goods up 2.8 percent in January

In this Oct. 22, 2014 photo, workers perform final inspections on 2015 Ford Explorers on the assembly line at the Chicago Ford Assembly Plant in Chicago. The Commerce Department releases its January report on durable goods on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) In this Oct. 22, 2014 photo, workers perform final inspections on 2015 Ford Explorers on the assembly line at the Chicago Ford Assembly Plant in Chicago. The Commerce Department releases its January report on durable goods on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

By Associated Press February 26, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Orders to U.S. factories for long-lasting manufactured goods rebounded in January as a key category that signals business investment plans showed an increase.

The Commerce Department says orders for durable goods increased 2.8 percent in January after declines of 3.7 percent in December and 2.2 percent in November.

Demand in a category that serves as a proxy for business investment increased 0.6 percent in January following declines of 0.7 percent in December and 0.5 percent in November.