OTHER NEWS - Oct. 28, 1991

Tool Orders Rise in September: Orders for U.S.-made machine tools showed a modest 3.4% rise in September after huge gains in metal-cutting tools were offset by fewer orders for metal-forming machines, the Assn. for Manufacturing Technology said. While September orders were well below the 22% surge in August, they did stretch gains to a fourth straight month, the trade group said. The group said September tool orders rose to $243.65 million from August’s $235.75 million, but they were off 7.8% from $264.35 million a year ago. Machine tools are used to manufacture a broad range of goods from cookware to jet aircraft. Although a relatively small industry, its performance is watched by economists as a guide to the general health of manufacturing.