Factory Orders Decline in August as Manufacturing Woes Deepen

The deepening contraction in manufacturing is also weighing on employment.

Men work on a wind turbine at a manufacturing plant in Pueblo, Colo., on Nov. 29, 2023. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

Factory orders unexpectedly fell in August, stoking concerns about the deepening downturn in the U.S. manufacturing sector.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported on Oct. 3 that factory orders fell by 0.2 percent in August, following a 4.9 percent increase in July. The decline marked a steeper drop than was generally anticipated, with economists polled by Reuters expecting orders to remain flat.