By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Factory orders were unchanged in November, a result that was weaker than expected, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast a 0.3% increase in factory orders. Prior to November, factory orders had increased in three of the past four months. Orders in November were held down by a drop in transportation equipment, especially civilian and military aircraft. Orders for durable goods increased 0.8% gain in November, revised up from 0.7% estimated two weeks ago. New orders for nondurable goods fell 0.6% after a 0.5% gain in October. Shipments increased 0.4% in November, the fourth gain in the past five months. Inventories were flat in November for the second straight month. There was some underlying strength in the report. Orders for capital goods excluding defense and aircraft rose 2.6% in November after a 3% gain in October. Shipments of these "core" orders, a key component of investment in the gross domestic product calculations, were up 2% in the month.
