US Durable Goods Orders Drop for 3rd Month

New orders for US-manufactured durable goods fell by 1.4% from the previous month to $315.5 billion in February of 2026, extending the revised 0.5% drop in the previous month. It was the third straight decline in orders, contrasting with leading indicators for the sector that reflected stronger demand for goods producers. Orders sank for transportation equipment (-5.4% to $106.1 billion) due to a -28.6% plunge in nondefense aircraft and parts (to $19.2 billion). Excluding transportation equipment, new orders inched higher by 0.8%, with support from primary metals (2.2% to $28.6 billion) and machinery (1.5% to $41.1 billion).

New orders for US-manufactured durable goods were flat month-over-month in January 2026, following a downwardly revised 0.9% decrease in December and compared to market forecasts of a 1.2% rise. Higher orders for primary metals (0.8%); computers and electronic products (0.8%) and fabricated metals products (0.6%) were offset by declines for capital goods (-1.1%); transportation equipment (-0.9%) and electrical equipment, appliances, and components (-0.6%). Excluding transportation, new orders went up by 0.4%, after an upwardly revised 1.3% increase in December; while excluding defense, they increased by 0.5%, after a revised 1.9% decline previously. Meanwhile, orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, were flat, following an upwardly revised 0.8% increase in the month before.

New orders for US-manufactured durable goods decreased by 1.4% mom in December 2025, following an upwardly revised 5.4% jump in November, delayed data showed. The drop was milder than the 2% decline expected by analysts and was largely driven by a 5.3% fall in transportation equipment, notably a 25.9% slump in nondefense aircraft and parts. Orders also declined significantly for capital goods (-3.9%), but picked up for defense aircraft and parts (9.5% vs 3.2%) and computers and electronic products (3% vs 0.7%). Excluding transportation, new orders increased by 0.9%, after a downwardly revised 0.4% rise in November and above the expected 0.3% gain; while excluding defense, they slipped by 2.5% following a 6.6% jump the prior month. Meanwhile, orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, rose by 0.6%, following an upwardly revised 0.7% increase in the month before. In 2025, new orders increased by 7.8% over a year ago.