U.S. durable goods orders excluding defense returned to growth in January 2026, rising 0.5% month-over-month after a sharp decline of 1.9% in December 2025, according to data updated on 13 March 2026. The indicator tracks month-over-month changes in orders for long-lasting manufactured goods, excluding defense-related items, and is often viewed as a gauge of underlying business investment demand.
The January uptick marks a partial recovery from December’s drop, suggesting that core industrial and manufacturing activity may be stabilizing after a weak end to 2025. On a comparison basis, the latest figure reflects the change from December 2025 to January 2026, while the previous reading captured the shift from November to December 2025. Investors and analysts will be watching upcoming releases closely to see whether January’s improvement signals the start of a firmer trend in business spending or merely a temporary rebound.
