Key facts
- New orders for U.S. factory goods increased 4.8% in April.
- This marks the largest monthly gain since May 2025.
- Commercial aircraft orders significantly boosted the increase.
- Orders for primary metals increased 2.0%.
- Bookings for fabricated metal products jumped 3.5%.
- Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft declined 1.0%.
New orders for U.S. factory goods increased by 4.8% in April, marking the largest monthly gain since May 2025. This surge was primarily driven by a significant rise in commercial aircraft orders, which increased by 165.9% after a decline in March. Orders for primary metals rose 2.0%, fabricated metal products jumped 3.5%, machinery increased 0.7%, and electrical equipment, appliances, and components climbed 0.5%. Orders for motor vehicle bodies, parts, and trailers also saw increases. However, orders for computers and electronic products dropped 0.7%, with computers falling 2.5%. Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a key measure of business spending plans, declined 1.0% in April, although shipments of these core capital goods rose 0.4%. Manufacturing, which constitutes 9.4% of the economy, is currently supported by AI spending.