Pushed lower by weak demand and falling prices, shipments from U.S. factories plunged a record 5.3% in November, the Commerce Department estimated Tuesday. Orders for U.S. factory-made goods fell 4.6% in the month, more than twice as much as the expected 2.2% decline. The figures are not adjusted for price changes. Orders and shipments of nondurable goods dropped a record 7.4% in November, led by a 22% drop in shipments from petroleum refineries. Oil and gasoline prices fell about 20% during the month. Orders for durable goods fell 1.5%, revised from the 1% drop reported two weeks ago.
