Factory orders jumped 1.1% in April, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.
Excluding transportation orders, bookings rose 2.6% for a second straight month, Commerce said.
The April gain followed a revised 1.5% increase March that was bigger than first reported.
The increase was in contrast to economists’ predictions of a 0.1% decline, Bloomberg reported.
Durable goods orders, which make up about half of factory orders, fell by 0.6%. Demand for electrical equipment rose by a record 28%, and machinery demand rose 4.1%.
The trucking industry relies on factory orders and shipments for much of its business.
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