United States factory orders excluding transportation equipment rose 1.2% month-over-month in February 2026, more than doubling the 0.5% gain recorded in January. The latest figures, updated on 10 April 2026, point to strengthening underlying demand in the manufacturing sector once volatile transportation orders are stripped out.
The February increase builds on January’s positive momentum, when factory orders ex-transportation had already moved higher compared with the prior month. The month-over-month acceleration suggests that core industrial activity is gaining traction, potentially reflecting improving business investment and steady demand for manufactured goods.
With the “actual” February data measured against January, and January in turn compared with the month before it, the back-to-back gains indicate a more solid trend rather than a one-off jump. Investors and policymakers may view this as a constructive signal for the broader U.S. economic outlook, given the close link between factory orders and future production levels.
