And orders for non-durable goods, such as processed food and clothing, also rose - by 0.8%.

BBC: US factory orders rise thanks to aircraft sales

Non-durable goods orders also posted the steepest decline since that period, falling 2.0%.

WSJ: Jobless Claims Increase

The company's products are used by diverse consumer and industrial markets, including flexible and rigid packaging, automotive products, coatings, residential and commercial construction as well as other durable and non-durable goods.

FORBES: #1,487 Westlake Chemical

For most of the past three decades, the price of non-durable goods has been falling relative to the price of the services investment advice, personal care, domestic help and so on that the rich spend more of their money on.

ECONOMIST: Economics focus

The Commerce Department also reported that orders for non-transportation durable goods in January rose by a stronger-than-expected 1.9% (the most in a year).

FORBES: Stock Market D��j�� Vu

The Fed has apparently ignored recent jumps in the ISM Mfg Index, ISM Non-Mfg Index (service sector), retail sales, durable goods orders, and the like, which indicated even the point in the recovery may be near where the employment situation improves.

FORBES: Roll Out The Bubbles, We'll Have A Barrel Of Fun (For A While)

Consumer-goods orders fell 1.9%, with consumer durable goods orders falling 0.7% and non-durables down 2.2%.

WSJ: Jobless Claims Increase