That followed a report of a fall in industrial orders, suggesting that economic activity is softening.
But the latest figures for factory orders suggest it is holding up pretty well.
Still, the big increase in new orders suggests that output growth will remain steady.
Durable-goods orders suggest investment spending may be recovering from its recent funk.
This did not help sales, though some recent big orders suggest the glitch has been overcome.
However, companies reported an increase in orders and export orders, suggesting they will need to increase production.
"In particular, current figures on industrial production and incoming orders suggest markedly reduced investment activities on the part of German firms against the backdrop of uncertain sales prospects.
The government reported a sharp decline in durable-goods orders, suggesting that U.S. manufacturing was slowing down, and there were discouraging numbers from the housing market.
"Last Orders" suggests that Britain has remained, through war, prosperity and five decades of bad hairstyles and hideous fashions, a nation of shopkeepers.
And durable-goods orders suggest that business spending and investment did not decline faster in the fourth quarter than in the third quarter.
