The factory orders in the United States were basically unchanged in August at 403.6 billion dollars following a 1.0 percent decline in July, the Commerce Department reported on Wednesday.

Analysts said the weakness in August had reflected big declines in demand for computers and commercial aircraft.

Orders for durable goods, items expected to last three years or more, were unchanged in August at 210.5 billion dollars following a 2.8 percent plunge in July.

Orders for non-durable goods were unchanged in August at 193.1 billion dollars following a 1.2 percent July increase.

Shipments of durable goods, following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased 4.5 billion dollars or 1.1 percent to 407.8 billion dollars, the highest level since 1992.

Unfilled orders increased 2.8 billion dollars or 0.4 percent to 632.0 billion dollars in August.

Inventories increased 1.8 billion dollars or 0.4 percent to 475.5 billion dollars, following a 0.8-percent July increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.17, unchanged from July.

Source: Xinhua