U.S. business investment fell slightly in August, excluding spending on aircraft and defense equipment, but new home sales rose, suggesting that global economic headwinds were doing little to impede U.S. growth. The U.S. economy is on track to grow 1.4 percent in the third quarter, the Atlanta Federal Reserve’s GDPNow forecast model showed on Thursday. The recent trend in orders gives a good signal for economic growth in the third quarter after business investment on equipment fell in the April-June period.