Factory orders dropped in November

The volatile category of transportation items -- on planes, trains and ships -- led the decrease in new business for factories, falling 5.2 percent to $52.3 billion after rising 0.4 percent in September.

Transportation orders have fallen in two of the past three months.
Orders in durable goods, also down for two of the past three months, fell 3.4 percent to $195.7 billion while orders for non-durable goods rose 1.5 percent to $224.4 billion.

Inventories of durable goods among U.S. manufacturers rose for the 10th consecutive month, climbing 0.5 percent to $316.9 billion. Inventories of non-durable goods rose 1.5 percent to $221.3 billion.

Petroleum and coal inventories led the increases among non-durable goods in October, climbing 3.6 percent to $44.7 billion.

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