US Durable Goods Orders Slip in August After Two-Month Rise
New orders for manufactured durable goods fell slightly in August 2026, snapping a two-month streak of gains, Census Bureau data shows.
New orders for manufactured durable goods declined in August 2026, ending a two-month run of consecutive increases, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau's Advance Monthly Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders report.
Total new orders slipped $0.1 billion to $338.6 billion, a decrease so marginal it registered as essentially unchanged on a percentage basis. The prior month, July 2026, had posted a revised gain of 0.9 percent, underscoring the relative softness of the August reading by comparison.
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The near-flat result signals that demand for big-ticket manufactured goods — items ranging from aircraft and machinery to electronics and vehicles — paused after back-to-back months of expansion. While a single month's data rarely defines a trend, the stall could draw scrutiny from analysts watching for signs of broader industrial momentum heading into the final quarter of the year.
The Census Bureau's advance estimate is subject to revision as more complete survey data is incorporated in subsequent releases. Market participants and policymakers typically monitor durable goods orders as a forward-looking indicator of business investment and manufacturing sector health.
Continue reading at U.S. Census Bureau Economic Briefing Room.
