Factory orders increased 2.3% in March.

Orders for both durable and non-durable goods climbed to a record $198.89 billion in March, surpassing the previous high of $197.15 billion set in December, 1985, the Commerce Department reported. The March increase followed a 4.1% February advance, but the strength in both months was heavily influenced by a surge in demand for military equipment. Orders for military hardware shot up 39% in March. Without this huge defense increase, factory orders would have risen only 1%.