Durable Goods Orders Fall More Than Expected In February

U.S. durable goods orders dropped 1.4% in February to $315.5 billion, exceeding economists’ forecasted 1.1% decline, signaling weaker-than-expected manufacturing demand. Excluding volatile transportation orders, "core" durable goods rose 0.8% month-over-month and 6.0% year-over-year, indicating underlying strength in key sectors beyond aerospace and autos. Core capital goods orders—a proxy for business investment—climbed 0.6% from January and 5.1% annually, suggesting sustained corporate spending despite broader manufacturing softness. Year-over-year, total durable goods orders grew 7.3%, masking February’s monthly dip and reflecting longer-term resilience in industrial activity amid economic uncertainty. The data, released in April 2026, underscores mixed trends: short-term volatility in headline figures but steady expansion in business investment and core manufacturing sectors.