U.S. Durable Goods Orders Jump 7.9% in April, Far Exceeding Forecasts

New orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods surged 7.9% in April, the Commerce Department reported on May 28, 2026, smashing expectations of a 1.5% increase and signaling unexpected strength in industrial demand. The headline surge was driven primarily by a 24.1% leap in volatile transportation equipment orders, reflecting a sharp rebound in commercial aircraft bookings. Excluding transportation, new orders rose a more modest 1.8%, still above the 0.5% consensus. Core capital goods orders, a proxy for business investment, climbed 2.4%, nearly double the forecast. The data underscore resilience in manufacturing despite elevated interest rates, with unfilled orders rising 1.2% and shipments gaining 1.9%. While the sizable beat fueled bets that the Federal Reserve may hold rates higher for longer, economists cautioned that April’s swing likely reflects lumpy aircraft contracts rather than a sustained capital spending boom.