The Commerce Department said on Thursday that factory orders shot up 2.6% after rising 1.6% in December. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast factory orders advancing 2.1% in January. Orders increased 1.3% on a year-on-year basis.
Unfilled orders at factories edged up 0.1% in January after decreasing 0.2% in December.
Supplier issues pushed costs higher, according to the survey. In response, goods producers upped their average selling prices at the fastest pace on record.
At least two trays of COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered in California needed to be replaced after their storage temperatures dipped below minus 80 Celsius
Officials are investigating whether storing the vaccines at excessively cold temperatures poses a safety or efficacy risk