U.S. factory orders excluding transportation accelerated in September 2026, rising 1.3% month-over-month, up sharply from a 0.4% gain in August. The fresh data, updated on 3 November 2026, point to strengthening underlying demand in the manufacturing sector once volatile transportation components are stripped out.
The latest reading shows that September’s growth in core factory orders more than tripled the pace seen in August 2026, when orders ex-transportation increased 0.4% compared with July. On a month-over-month basis, the improvement suggests a firmer pipeline for production and a potentially more resilient outlook for U.S. industry heading into the final quarter of the year.
Because the measure compares each month to the prior one, September’s 1.3% increase reflects a meaningful pickup in momentum rather than a base-effect distortion. Market participants and analysts watching the U.S. industrial cycle are likely to interpret the data as a sign of stabilizing—if not strengthening—core manufacturing activity.
