WASHINGTON—New orders for U.S.-made goods fell in February, likely because of persistent shortages of materials and a shift in spending back to services, but manufacturing remains supported by low inventories at businesses.
The Commerce Department said on Monday that factory orders fell 0.5 percent in February. Data for January was revised slightly higher to show orders rising 1.5 percent instead of 1.4 percent as previously reported. February’s decrease in factory orders was in line with economists’ expectations.
