Orders for U.S. durable goods excluding defense jumped 8.1% in April 2026 compared with the previous month, a sharp turnaround from the revised 0.3% decline recorded in March. The latest month‑over‑month data, updated on 28 May 2026, point to a strong rebound in underlying investment demand after a soft patch.
The “previous” reading of -0.3% reflected the change from February to March 2026, while the “actual” 8.1% figure captures April’s performance relative to March. Because defense-related orders are excluded, the indicator is closely watched as a cleaner gauge of private-sector capital spending, suggesting that U.S. businesses significantly ramped up orders for long‑lasting equipment and machinery in April.