U.S. Factory Gauge Drops Less Than Forecast But Orders Stall

A gauge of U.S. factory activity fell in June by less than forecast as output and jobs improved though new orders stalled, highlighting the repercussions of trade uncertainty and slower growth abroad.

The Institute for Supply Management index dropped to 51.7, the third straight decline and the weakest level since October 2016, the group’s data showed Monday. Still, that topped the median estimate of 51 in a Bloomberg survey of economists. The measure of new orders fell to 50, the lowest since December 2015 and equaling the dividing line between growth and contraction.