U.S. Durable Goods Orders Rise 1.8% to $345.4 Billion in September
Key Facts
New orders for manufactured durable goods in the United States rose 1.8% in September to $345.4 billion, an increase of $6.3 billion, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released on October 27. The reading was above EL7’s 1.5% forecast, following a monthly increase of 0.1% in August. The report measures orders for goods expected to last at least three years, making them an indicator of industrial demand and business spending plans. The Census Bureau said orders increased in six of the seven months through September. The report’s details show that the overall increase was not evenly distributed across sectors.
Transportation equipment was the biggest driver of the increase, with orders jumping 4.6%, or $5.2 billion, to $119.8 billion in September. By contrast, orders excluding transportation equipment rose 0.5%, pointing to slower growth outside the sector. Orders excluding defense also increased 2.2% during the month. The indicator comparison shows that the overall rise benefited from a strong boost in transportation equipment, while growth in core orders remained slower. The Census Bureau did not explain the reasons for the sector movements in its report.
In another measure of business investment, orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft rose 0.5% in September, following a 1.6% increase in the previous period, according to figures reported by investingLive. September’s reading was below its 0.7% forecast. The indicator is used to track demand for capital equipment, excluding aircraft, which tend to have large and volatile orders. Census Bureau data also showed total orders for nondefense capital goods rising 6.2% to $107.8 billion. Shipments of these goods increased 1.7% to $97.1 billion, distinguishing new orders from goods already shipped.
On the fulfillment side, shipments of manufactured durable goods rose 0.9% to $336.8 billion in September, after falling 0.2% in August. Unfilled orders also increased 0.8% to $1,623.6 billion, compared with a 0.6% increase in the previous month. Inventories rose 0.3% to $610.0 billion, following a 0.5% increase in August. The Census Bureau had revised August orders to $339.1 billion, while keeping the monthly increase rate at 0.1%. These figures show different paths for demand, deliveries and inventories, without by themselves indicating the pace of future production.
Separately, Whirlpool reported sales of $3.677 billion in the third quarter, down 8.8% year over year, and a net loss of $249 million available to common shareholders. Chief Executive Mark Bitzer said the "pace of recovery is slower than expected," adding that cost and pricing actions are, according to the company, paving the way for further improvements in 2027. The company said demand in the North American appliance sector is weak. It also lowered its year-end 2026 net debt outlook to less than $4.5 billion, from a previous level of less than $5 billion. The company’s results offer a picture of conditions in its appliance market, while durable goods orders data cover U.S. manufacturing sectors overall.
The Federal Open Market Committee meets on October 27 and 28, with the Federal Reserve scheduled to hold its press conference on October 28, according to the central bank’s calendar. The orders data were released at the start of the second day of the meeting. The September report on wholesale trade sales and inventories is scheduled for release on November 9 at 10:00 a.m., according to the Census Bureau’s calendar. Revised and more detailed estimates for factory orders, along with data on nondurable goods, are scheduled for release on November 3 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The bureau set November 25 for the release of its next durable goods orders report, covering October.