U.S. core capital goods orders, measured by Goods Orders Non Defense Ex Air, strengthened in February 2026, signaling improving momentum in business investment. The indicator rose 0.6% month-over-month, up from a flat reading of 0.0% in January 2026.
The data, updated on 7 April 2026, show that after a stagnant start to the year, February brought a notable pickup in orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft. Because this series is closely watched as a proxy for future business spending, the positive shift from January’s zero growth suggests that U.S. companies may be cautiously increasing outlays on equipment and machinery as the first quarter progresses.
On a month-over-month comparison basis, the February gain marks a clear improvement over the previous period, when January’s unchanged figure reflected no growth versus December. Investors and policymakers will be watching upcoming releases to see whether this rebound solidifies into a sustained trend in capital investment.
