Factory Orders Up In September

Demand for chemical and metal products fueled the fourth consecutive increase in orders to the nation’s factories in September, a sign American manufacturing has enough vigor to withstand disruption in Asian markets.

Orders rose a moderate 0.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted $336.5 billion after a large 1.2 percent advance in August. Analysts had been predicting a decrease in September. The surprise increase fed optimism that manufacturing wouldn’t be too hurt by decreased export sales to markets in Southeast Asia.

“Despite the fact that … we’re seeing some disruptions in international markets, manufacturing just has an awful lot of momentum,” said economist Priscilla Trumbull of the WEFA Group in Eddystone, Pa.