New orders at US factories rose 1.8% in September 2026 from August on a seasonally adjusted basis, beating the 1.2% increase forecast by economists polled by Reuters. Civilian aircraft and parts drove the gain, with orders for machinery and electronics also rising.

In its 3 November report, the US Census Bureau, part of the Department of Commerce, revised August’s increase from 0.1% to 0.3%. The data measure orders at current prices, so price changes also affect the growth rates.

Transport equipment orders rise 4.6%

Orders for durable goods rose 1.9% from August, while orders for nondurable goods increased 1.8%. Transport equipment made the biggest contribution to the gain in durable goods. Orders in that category rose 4.6%, with civilian aircraft and parts up 28.3%.

Excluding transport equipment, factory orders grew 1.3%, following a 0.4% rise in August. Orders for machinery increased 1.5%, and those for computers and electronic products rose 0.8%. Orders for electrical equipment, appliances and components fell 0.3%.

Core capital goods orders rise 0.6%

Orders for nondefence capital goods excluding aircraft rose 0.6% month on month, compared with an initial estimate of 0.5%. Economists watch the category as an indicator of businesses’ planned spending on machinery and equipment. Shipments in the same category rose 1.2%.

CEO editorial team · Polish original published 4 November 2026.