Orders for American-made durable goods has fallen as business investments slump—a sign of an economic slowdown. The U.S. industrial sector has been falling into a slump after several years of rapid growth, with many economists viewing it as a prelude to a broader recession. Durable goods orders jumped by 3.2 percent in March but only by…

U.S. business equipment orders rebounded in October, suggesting that investment plans are holding up despite economic uncertainty. Capital spending plans by American manufacturers have stood firm despite higher interest rates and a cool down in demand, as resilient domestic consumer spending continues to sustain production. The manufacturing sector, which currently accounts for 11.3 percent of the…

WASHINGTON—New orders for key U.S.-made capital goods increased for an eighth straight month in December, pointing to solid growth in business spending on equipment in the fourth quarter and likely helping to underpin the economic recovery. Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, rose 0.6 percent last…