New data show that U.S. durable goods orders excluding transportation strengthened in December, signaling a firmer tone in underlying business investment at year-end. The core gauge, which strips out the often-volatile transport sector, rose 0.9% month-over-month in December 2025, up from a 0.4% increase in the prior month.
Both the previous and current readings are measured on a month-over-month basis, comparing each period with the immediately preceding month. The latest figures, updated on 18 February 2026, indicate that core demand for longer-lasting manufactured goods gained momentum into December, suggesting resilient equipment and goods spending beneath broader economic cross-currents. Policymakers and investors often watch this indicator closely as a proxy for private sector confidence and capital expenditure trends in the United States.
