FX.co ★ US Durable Goods Orders Fall Less than Anticipated

New orders for US-manufactured durable goods fell 1.4% month-over-month in December 2025, following an upwardly revised 5.4% surge in November, according to delayed data. The decline was smaller than the 2% drop expected by analysts and was largely driven by a 5.3% decrease in transportation equipment, led by a steep 25.9% plunge in nondefense aircraft and parts.

Orders for capital goods also posted a notable decline (-3.9%). In contrast, orders increased for defense aircraft and parts (up 9.5% vs 3.2% previously) and for computers and electronic products (up 3% vs 0.7% previously).

Excluding transportation, new orders rose 0.9%, following a downwardly revised 0.4% gain in November and beating the consensus forecast of a 0.3% increase. Excluding defense, orders slipped 2.5%, after a 6.6% jump in the prior month.

Meanwhile, orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft—a closely watched proxy for business spending plans—rose 0.6%, following an upwardly revised 0.7% increase in the previous month.