US durable goods orders hold steady in August

U.S. durable goods orders remained virtually unchanged in August, totaling $338.6 billion. While the headline figure showed stagnation, the results exceeded economist expectations, which had forecasted a 0.3% decline.

The data reveals a divergence between sectors. Transportation equipment acted as a primary drag on growth, falling 0.6% due to a 4.3% decline in nondefense aircraft and parts. However, excluding transportation, orders rose by 0.3%.

Core business investment indicators showed resilience. Nondefense capital goods, excluding aircraft, increased by 1.6%. Specific gains were noted in electrical equipment, appliances, and components (up 1.1%), computers and related products (up 1.5%), and machinery (up 1.1%). These increases suggest steady demand for industrial automation, data center infrastructure, and electrification projects.