U.S. Durable Goods Orders Surge 3.5% in April, Far Exceeding Forecasts

New orders for U.S. durable goods jumped 3.5% in April, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday, smashing economists’ estimates of a 1.2% rise and marking the strongest monthly gain since January. The surge was driven by a 9.3% spike in transportation equipment, led by a rebound in civilian aircraft orders. Excluding the volatile transportation sector, core durable goods orders advanced 0.8%, outpacing the 0.3% consensus and indicating broad-based manufacturing strength. Orders for machinery and computers also posted solid increases. The data, released on May 28, 2026, suggest that business investment remains robust despite elevated interest rates, potentially complicating the Federal Reserve’s inflation assessment ahead of its June policy meeting.