Orders for U.S. durable goods excluding transportation rose 0.5% month-over-month in September 2026, up from a 0.2% increase in August, according to data updated on 3 November 2026. The figures, measured on a month-over-month basis, compare the change in September to August, while the previous reading compared August to July.
The stronger September reading suggests an acceleration in underlying demand for longer-lasting goods outside the volatile transport sector, often viewed as a proxy for core business investment. The pickup from 0.2% to 0.5% indicates that companies may be modestly stepping up spending on equipment and other capital goods as the third quarter transitions into the fourth.
While transportation orders can swing sharply from month to month, the improvement in the ex-transport measure highlights a more stable and broad-based rise in demand. Investors and policymakers are likely to watch whether this momentum in core durable goods orders continues in the coming months as a gauge of economic resilience.
