U.S. factory orders fell 5.1% in October, the most in eight years, the Commerce Department said Thursday.
The downturn followed a revised 3.1% decline in September that was more than the 2.5% originally reported.
Economists had forecast a 4.5% decline, Bloomberg reported.
Excluding transportation orders, which tend to be volatile, bookings fell for a third straight month.
Durable goods orders, which make up about half of factory orders, plunged 6.9%, while non-durables orders fell by 3.4%. Ìý The trucking industry relies on factory orders and shipments for much of its business.
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