U.S. Factory Orders Drop, German Orders Surge

In September, U.S. manufacturing orders declined by 0.5%, marking the seventh drop in the last year, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Commerce Department. This decrease aligns with economist expectations and indicates a cautious business environment amid geopolitical uncertainties and economic challenges. While core factory orders excluding transportation showed a slight increase, durable goods orders fell by 0.7%. The decline in factory orders, alongside decreasing shipments and inventories, highlights concerns over reduced business investment in equipment. In contrast, German industrial orders rose sharply by 4.2% in September, driven by large-scale orders, surpassing analyst expectations. The mixed economic signals from these two major economies reflect broader global economic uncertainties and pressures.