US business spending rises for 3rd month, boosting factories

WASHINGTON — U.S. businesses ramped up their investment in industrial machinery, semiconductors and other big-ticket items last month, boosting demand for factory goods. The Commerce Department says a measure that tracks business spending plans climbed 0.8 percent in December, after jumping 1.5 percent the previous month. Orders for all durable goods slipped 0.4 percent, mostly […]