NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Orders for goods made in U.S. factories fell 2.4 percent in June after rising a revised 0.6 percent in May, the Commerce Department said Friday, for the largest decline since November 2001.

Economists expected orders to fall 1.7 percent, according to Briefing.com.

The data follow Thursday's report that the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index fell to 50.5 in July. It also further contradicts recent evidence that the manufacturing sector, which suffered through an 18-month recession, is on the mend, considered a hopeful sign for the future of business spending.