4 June 2012 Last updated at 11:22 ET

US factory orders decline again in April

Activity has been subdued at US factories

New orders at US factories have fallen for the second month in a row, adding to evidence that the world's largest economy is weakening.

The Commerce Department said orders for manufactured goods fell 0.6% in April, after falling a downwardly revised 2.1% in March.

Economists had expected a 0.1% rise.

Orders for capital goods - expensive items such as communications equipment and computers - fell 2.1% after a 2.3% decline in March.

It was the first time since January and February 2009 that factory orders had fallen for two consecutive months.

On Friday, news of unexpectedly low job growth in the US economy triggered worldwide share price falls as analysts said it indicated the country's recovery was losing steam.

The US economy added 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest since May 2011.