US Durable Goods New Orders Surge in August, Transportation Equipment Demand Strengthens

2025-09-26

In August 2025, new orders for U.S. durable goods rose 2.9% from July to $312.1 billion, reversing a revised 2.7% decline in July. This marked the first monthly increase after three consecutive months of contraction and was about 3% higher than the same period last year, exceeding market expectations of a 0.3% decline. Overall, manufacturing activity showed signs of gradual recovery.

Breakdown data indicates that the August growth was mainly driven by transportation equipment, especially aircraft and parts:

  • Transportation equipment orders rose 7.9% to $110.2 billion, rebounding after two consecutive months of decline.
  • Defense aircraft and parts orders surged 50.1%.
  • Non-defense aircraft and parts orders increased 21.6%.
  • Excluding defense, new orders rose 1.9%.
  • Excluding transportation equipment, new orders rose 0.4%.

The rebound in monthly demand for aircraft and transportation equipment suggests a notable recovery in manufacturing activity.

Overall, the rebound in durable goods orders in August reflects a gradual recovery in U.S. manufacturing momentum.

Durable goods refer to products with a lifespan of more than three years—such as aircraft, automobiles, and industrial machinery—and are considered a key economic indicator of manufacturing demand and business confidence. They effectively capture shifts in overall manufacturing activity. In the short term (1–2 months), if the global supply chain faces no major disruptions, the likelihood of continued order growth remains high. In the medium term (within six months), close attention will be needed on domestic and international economic conditions and the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance. If the economy maintains steady growth and transportation equipment demand remains robust, durable goods orders are expected to grow steadily, further supporting manufacturing activity and capital investment momentum.