U.S. factory orders, shipments fall in January

This year’s brutal winter is depressing more than those of us suffering through it. The prolonged cold, snowy weather is blamed for also dragging down manufacturing.

On Thursday, the Commerce Department reported orders for manufactured goods fell 0.7 percent in January and revised December’s numbers to 2.0 percent from the previously reported 1.5 percent drop, according to reporting by Reuters.
 
Taking the biggest hits are factory orders for transportation, electrical equipment, components, appliances and machinery. Computers, electronic products and defense capital goods showed a 0.2 percent gain.

Read more from Reuters.