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New orders for U.S.-made goods increased for a fourth straight month in March and orders for capital equipment were stronger than previously reported, pointing to a sustained recovery in the manufacturing sector.

U.S. trailer orders climbed past 26,000 or about 24% higher, year-over-year, as cancellations increased to the highest level in five months, ACT Research Co. reported.

North American Class 8 orders in February hit a 14-month high as volumes cleared 23,000 and exceeded expectations, analysts said.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Capitalizing on strong replacement demand, trailer makers said they are expanding product lines and features amid industrywide orders that skyrocketed 92% in January to more than 32,000.

U.S. net trailer orders in January shot up 92% year-over-year to almost 33,000 as dry van demand surged ahead, much as it has since November, ACT Research Co. said.

New orders for U.S.-made goods fell in November, weighed down by a plunge in the volatile civilian aircraft category, but the underlying trend suggested manufacturing is gradually firming.

U.S. factory output dropped in November for the first time in three months, showing an anemic recovery in manufacturing after an extended slowdown.

U.S. trailer orders climbed above 21,000 in October for the second-highest total of the year, as analysts said the cycle is stabilizing after the tremendous surge in orders during the previous two years.

New orders for U.S. factory goods rose for a third straight month in September, but a further decline in order books suggested the manufacturing sector will struggle to emerge from a prolonged slump.