U.S. durable goods orders excluding defense showed a sharp loss of momentum in August 2026, rising just 0.1% month-over-month, down from a 1.3% gain in July. The latest figure, updated on 25 September 2026, points to a notable cooling in underlying demand for big-ticket manufactured items once volatile defense-related spending is stripped out.
The month-over-month comparison highlights how quickly conditions have shifted. While July’s reading reflected relatively robust business appetite for equipment and long-lasting goods, August’s near-flat outcome suggests companies may be growing more cautious about committing to new capital outlays.
Analysts often monitor durables excluding defense as a clearer gauge of private-sector investment trends. The abrupt slowdown from July to August will likely feed into broader assessments of the U.S. economic outlook, particularly around corporate confidence and the trajectory of manufacturing activity heading into the final months of 2026.
