Signs of economic recovery may be an indication from reports that show increasing orders for factories and shrinking inventories.

Commerce Department numbers show factory orders rose point-nine percent in September. That's a stronger-than expected result. It represents the fifth month out of six that orders increased.

MF Global chief economist James O'Sullivan called it a "solid rise in orders," saying, quote, "they are consistent with manufacturing growth again."

Meanwhile, inventories fell for the 13th month in a row in September. That's the longest stretch of declining inventories since the indicator fell 15 months in a row beginning in February of 2001.

A recent separate report from the Institute for Supply Management revealed its index of national factory activity reached the highest level in more than three years last month.