Area Development
Led by a strong demand for commercial aircraft, orders to U.S. factories rose by  1.3 percent in July, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The July increase follows a 2.1 percent increase the previous month and represents the fifth straight month of increased orders. Industry analysts had predicted an average increase of 0.8 percent for the period. The commercial aircraft sector rose by 28.1 percent, a strong rebound from the 21.3 percent decline in June; transportation overall rose by 3.2 percent. Other sectors that saw growth included machinery, metals, and non-durable goods.