US factory orders drop 5.2%

On the US economy, October 5 http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b879fa10-0e1c-11e2-8b92-00144feabdc0.html#axzz28G6YFDyU?ftcamp=traffic/email/content/newsmine//memmkt

"Companies cut their orders from US factories by 5.2 per cent in August, the biggest decline since January 2009, the US commerce department said on Thursday. The figures mirrored data last week showing a sharp drop in demand for long-lasting goods largely because of a fall-off in volatile demand for aeroplanes."
"Separately, new claims for jobless benefits rose 4,000 to 367,000 in the week to September 29, labour department data showed. The previous week was revised slightly higher to 363,000. Consensus forecasts stood at 370,000. The four-week new claims average, which smooths out the volatility of the weekly data and is seen as a more accurate barometer of labour market trends, was unchanged at 375,000."