WASHINGTON — Orders to U.S. factories rebounded in September, helped by strength in autos, heavy machinery and military aircraft.

The fifth increase in six months bolsters hopes that a revival in manufacturing will help support an overall economic recovery. The worry is that if consumer spending falters in coming months, orders will slump again.

The Commerce Department says orders rose 0.9 percent in September, slightly better than the 0.8 percent advance economists had expected. Demand increased for both durable goods and nondurable goods such as chemicals and energy products.