Factories Help Lead U.S. Economy Out of Slump as Orders Rise

Consecutive gains in orders for capital equipment signal American factories, and the economy, are starting to crawl out of a first-quarter slump.

An index that is a proxy for future corporate spending -- bookings for non-military capital goods excluding aircraft -- advanced 1 percent in April after rising 1.5 percent the prior month, according to Commerce Department data issued Tuesday in Washington. Other reports showed the housing market is gaining traction and consumers are feeling a little more confident.