Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods tumbled in September by the largest amount in four months while a closely watched category that tracks business investment fell for a second month.

The declines underscored the troubles manufacturing is having in the face of a global slowdown and trade war uncertainty.

The Commerce Department said Thursday that orders for durable goods dropped 1.1% in September, the biggest setback since a 2.3% decline in May. Orders in a category that serves as a proxy for business investment spending dipped 0.5% following a 0.6% decline in July.

Many economists say growth would have slowed even more without two interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. The Fed meets again next week and financial markets are looking for a third quarter-point rate reduction as insurance against a possible recession.

U.S. manufacturing has been struggling this year as a global slowdown and President Donald Trump's get-tough trade policies have hurt export sales. Auto production was also curtailed because of a strike at General Motors.

In a separate report, the Labor Department said that the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell by 6,000 last week to 212,000.

The applications, considered a proxy for layoffs, have remained at extremely low levels for an extended period, reflecting the strength of the job market and an unemployment rate which now stands at a half-century low.

The 1.1% decline in orders for durable goods, items expected to last at least three years, reflected weakness in a number of areas led by transportation, which dropped 2.7%.

Demand for commercial aircraft fell 11.8% in September after a 17.2% decline in August. This category has been hurt by the troubles at Boeing, which has suspended production of the 737 Max while two deadly crashes are being investigated.