August orders for big-ticket goods made in U.S. beat expectations

The monthly Census Bureau report includes nationwide data on durable goods orders, providing a snapshot of current economic conditions as well as an indication of future manufacturing activity.

Because durable goods orders are often discretionary, meaning the purchases can often be postponed, many consider the report a reflection of economic confidence.  

“The August print for Durable Goods Orders came in at 0.0%, which is unremarkable until you look at what had been expected: -0.3%,” reads an analysis from Zacks Equity Research. 

Because transportation and defense orders can be especially large and significantly skew topline numbers, the Census Bureau also reports monthly changes excluding each of those categories. For August, new orders increased 0.3% excluding transportation; new orders increased 0.1% excluding defense. Excluding both of those categories, orders were up 1.6% from July.

“Non-Defense, ex-aircraft — a proxy for ‘normal’ business spending — reached a surprisingly high +1.6%, more than triple the +0.5% analysts were expecting,” according to Zacks.

Total new orders have generally trended upward this year, starting at approximately $320 billion in January and peaking at $347.8 billion in April. Since then, orders have remained above $330 billion each month.

Employment is several steps removed from new orders. Increased demand can eventually lead manufacturers to hire more workers, but companies can also fulfill additional orders through productivity gains, overtime, automation, existing capacity or other means.

Though U.S. manufacturing employment declined overall in 2025, losing about 68,000 jobs over the course of the year, it has crept back upward in 2026, with much of that growth occurring this summer. The sector has gained 43,000 jobs since May.

Manufacturing orders and employment are two measures of activity in the sector as the Trump administration continues to push for the reshoring of American manufacturing.