U.S. durables excluding transport posted a modest acceleration in May 2026, suggesting underlying business investment remains resilient despite broader economic uncertainties. The core measure — which strips out the often-volatile transportation component — rose 1.4% month-over-month, up from a 1.1% gain in April 2026.
The May increase, based on data updated on 2 July 2026, indicates that demand for machinery, equipment, and other long-lasting manufactured goods continued to strengthen heading into mid‑year. On a month-over-month comparison basis, the improvement from April to May points to firms maintaining or expanding capital spending rather than pulling back.
Given that “actual” figures compare each month’s change to the prior month, the step-up from April’s 1.1% rise to a 1.4% gain in May may be viewed by markets as a constructive sign for the industrial and manufacturing outlook, and a supportive signal for broader U.S. growth momentum in the second quarter of 2026.
