New factory orders in October rose for the second consecutive month, by 0.6% after rising an upwardly revised 1.6% in September (was 0.9%), the Commerce Department reported today. Economists had expected orders to remain flat over the month, but petroleum-fueled gains in non-durables more than offset an already reported rise in non-durable goods. Total factory orders have now risen in six of the last seven months, but are down an unadjusted 20.7% over the year. Non-durable goods carried October's gain, rising 1.6% on a 6.0% rise in petroleum and coal orders. Durable goods orders fell 0.6% as previously reported, carried in part by a 4.3% increase in orders for primary metals and a 1.6% rise in orders for transportation equipment. When excluding for transportation, total durables rose 0.5%. Despite today's otherwise better than expected report, a key indicator of business confidence -- orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft- - fell 3.4% in October.