Orders for U.S. non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft — a key proxy for business investment — accelerated in August 2026, pointing to stronger underlying demand from companies.
Month-over-month, the indicator rose 1.6% in August, up sharply from a revised 0.2% increase in July 2026. The data, updated on 25 September 2026, show that core goods orders gained momentum as firms stepped up spending on equipment and other long-lived goods, after a relatively subdued performance in the prior month.
On a comparison basis, the “actual” August reading reflects the change versus July, while the “previous” figure captures July’s change versus June. The stronger August performance suggests businesses may be becoming more confident about medium-term demand, although further data will be needed to confirm whether this marks the start of a sustained upswing in capital spending.
