Factory orders jump 1.1% in April on higher gasoline prices (by Rex Nutting)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Orders for U.S.-made factory increased a better-than-expected 1.1% in April, largely due higher prices for gasoline and other petroleum products, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Orders for durable goods fell 0.6% in April, revised down from the 0.5% drop estimated last week. Orders and shipments of nondurable goods rose 2.8% in current dollars, led by a 6.3% increase at petroleum refineries, which nearly matched the rise in gasoline prices during the month. Excluding the increase in orders for petroleum goods, factory orders rose 0.4%.