US Durable Goods Orders Rebound

New orders for US-manufactured durable goods rose by 0.8% from the previous month to $318.9 billion in March of 2026, rebounding from the revised 1.2% drop in the previous month, and slightly ahead of market expectations of a 0.5% increase. The result reflected some traction to goods orders despite the jump injection of uncertainty in the period as the war with Iran triggered a surge in energy prices and disrupted global shipping. Orders rose sharply for computers and electronic products (3.7% to $29.6 billion), aligned with the stronger momentum for AI products. Orders were also higher for machinery (0.8% to $41.8 billion), primary metals (0.4% to 28.8 billion), electrical equipment (0.8% to $18.3 billion), and the commonly volatile transportation equipment space (0.8% to $106.7 billion).

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.