**MNI: 5 Things We Learned From The October Factory Data>

By Sara Haire

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following are the five key points from the 

October factory orders report released by the Commerce Department 

Monday: 

     - Factory orders were down 0.1%, a smaller decline than the 

expected 0.3% decline, with durable goods orders revised up to a 

more modest 0.8% decline and nondurable goods orders were up 0.7% on 

petroleum and coal and chemical products. 

     - Factory orders ex transportation were up 0.8%, suggesting 

underlying growth in new orders.

     - Nondefense capital goods new orders were down 3.7% in the month, 

but was up 0.3% excluding civilian aircraft.    

     - Total factory shipments were up 0.6% in October, with 

nondefense capital goods shipments down 1.2% and up 1.1% excluding 

civilian aircraft. 

     - Factory inventories rose 0.2%, so combined with the advance 

estimates for retail (-0.1%) and wholesale inventories (-0.4%), this 

would result in a 0.1% decline for business inventories.

     ** MNI Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 ** 

[TOPICS: MAUDS$,M$U$$$,MAUDR$]