New orders for US manufactured goods inched up 0.1% month over month in August 2026, following a downwardly revised 0.8% gain in July and aligning with market expectations. Orders for non-durable goods rose 0.3%, a moderation from the previous 0.7% increase, reflecting softer growth in primary metals (1.2% vs. 2.1% in July) and machinery (1.1% vs. 1.5%). At the same time, notable declines were recorded in defense communications equipment (-7.3%), nondefense aircraft and parts (-4.3%), and household appliances (-3.1%).
By contrast, durable goods orders slipped 0.1%, reversing a 0.9% advance in the prior month. Excluding transportation, factory orders rose 0.3%, and excluding defense, they increased 0.1%.
