U.S. machine tool orders rose 23.7% in...

U.S. machine tool orders rose 23.7% in January to $298.50 million, led by a 27.5% jump in domestic orders, the National Machine Tool Builders Assn. said. The January rise in orders followed a 76.7% surge in December to $242.6 million, the association said. It said January orders were up 125.3% from a year ago. The lower dollar, which makes American-made machine tools more price competitive, and higher government purchases contributed to the rise in orders, the group said.