By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - U.S. and foreign businesses slowed their demand in August for capital equipment to expand production, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Factory orders decreased 0.8% in August, slower than the 0.5% fall expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch. Orders for durable goods decreased 2.6% in August, revised down from 2.4% estimated a week ago. This is the biggest drop since January. Orders for nondurable goods rose 0.8%. Core capital equipment orders fell 0.9% in August, revised up from 1.9% estimated a week ago, the government said.
