Factory Orders Slip 0.4 Percent

Orders to U.S. factories slipped in November for the first time in three months, but analysts said the report did not alter their view that the economy was growing moderately at year’s end.

The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that orders for both durable and non-durable goods fell 0.4 percent in November to a seasonally adjusted $320.5 billion, from $321.9 billion in October.

It was the first drop since orders fell 2.1 percent in August.

The decline was due in large part to softer demand for electronic equipment following hefty gains of 1.1 percent in October and 2.6 percent in September.