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Orders for US durable goods down 2 percent in August

FILE - In this March 13, 2015 file photo, a worker inspects a new 2015 aluminum-alloy body Ford F-150 truck at the company's Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo. The Commerce Department releases its August report on durable goods on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) FILE - In this March 13, 2015 file photo, a worker inspects a new 2015 aluminum-alloy body Ford F-150 truck at the company's Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo. The Commerce Department releases its August report on durable goods on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

By Associated Press September 24, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods dropped in August with weakness in a key category that tracks business investment plans.

The Commerce Department says that orders for durable goods fell 2 percent in August compared to July when orders had risen by 1.9 percent. A key category that serves as a proxy for business investment edged down 0.2 percent last month after gains of 2.1 percent in July and 1.5 percent in June.

The underlying demand for manufactured goods has been weaker this year as a strong dollar and China’s economic slowdown have dragged down demand for American exports and big declines in oil prices have resulted in cutbacks in investment by energy companies.