New orders for US-manufactured durable goods were essentially unchanged in August 2026, coming in at $338.6 billion. This followed two consecutive monthly increases and contrasted with market expectations for a 0.4% decline. Orders fell in the transportation category (-0.6%), driven by drops in nondefense aircraft and parts (-4.3%) and in motor vehicles and parts (-0.6%), as well as in fabricated metal products (-1.3%).
By contrast, notable gains were recorded in defense aircraft and parts (5.9%); computers and related products (1.5%); primary metals (1.2%); electrical equipment, appliances, and components (1.1%); and machinery (1.1%).
Excluding transportation, durable goods orders rose 0.3%, following a 0.7% increase in July and falling short of the 0.6% advance expected by analysts. Meanwhile, orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft—a closely watched proxy for business investment—climbed 1.6%, after a 0.6% gain in July, significantly exceeding market forecasts for a 0.5% increase.
