2026 New Orders

By the Editors of Commercial Property Executive

October 26, 2026

The latest update based on U.S. Census Bureau data.

A chart of industrial new orders through August 2026 — Source: U.S. Census Bureau

As of August, new orders across all manufacturing industries increased 8.8 percent year-over-year, representing a gain of $54.5 billion compared to August 2025, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The overall increase reflected broad-based growth across manufacturing, with all tracked sectors posting positive annual gains.

Among the tracked subsectors, primary metals recorded the strongest annual increase, with new orders rising 22.1 percent from a year earlier. Computers and electronic products followed closely, advancing 17.4 percent, while machinery recorded a 17.2 percent year-over-year gain.

Nondurable goods industries also turned in a solid performance, with orders climbing 9.3 percent, followed by fabricated metal products, where orders rose 9.0 percent, and durable goods industries, which recorded an 8.3 percent increase.

Electrical equipment, appliances and components expanded 8.0 percent. Growth was more modest in transportation equipment, which recorded a 1.9 percent year-over-year increase, while furniture and related products posted a gain of 0.8 percent.

Month-over-month changes

Compared to July, total manufacturing orders increased 3.4 percent in August, a gain of $22.2 billion. Although the monthly growth rate was lower than the annual increase, most tracked sectors posted gains, led by transportation equipment and electrical equipment, appliances and components.

Transportation equipment led monthly growth, with orders increasing 9.7 percent from July and making the largest positive contribution among the tracked subsectors. Electrical equipment, appliances and components followed with a 9.6 percent gain, while computers and electronic products advanced 5.8 percent. Durable goods industries also posted a solid monthly increase of 4.9 percent.

Orders for nondurable goods industries rose 1.9 percent from July, while primary metals recorded a 2.8 percent increase. Fabricated metal products followed with a 1.6 percent gain, while machinery orders grew 1.4 percent. Furniture and related products was the only tracked subsector to register a monthly decline, with orders falling 1.7 percent.

—Posted on October 26, 2026

In July, new orders across all manufacturing industries rose 10.4 percent year-over-year, or $61.3 billion, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. All tracked subsectors recorded annual gains, suggesting that manufacturing demand continued to expand despite monthly declines across most industries.

Primary metals led the year-over-year growth, with new orders climbing 20.7 percent compared to July 2025. Machinery followed with a 16.5 percent increase, while computers and electronic products advanced 16.4 percent. Transportation equipment orders grew 15.1 percent, and durable goods industries posted a 13.0 percent gain.

Fabricated metal products recorded an 11.8 percent annual increase, followed by nondurable goods industries, where orders rose 8.0 percent. Electrical equipment, appliances and components grew 6.6 percent year-over-year, while furniture and related products saw the smallest gain, at 2.9 percent.

Month-over-month changes

Manufacturing orders fell 6.6 percent from June to July, or $45.7 billion, indicating a broad monthly pullback following June’s higher level. The decline was widespread, with furniture and related products the only tracked subsector to register an increase.

Furniture and related products orders rose 2.2 percent month-over-month. By contrast, nondurable goods industries recorded a 1.7 percent decline, while primary metals orders decreased 3.4 percent.

New orders for fabricated metal products fell 5.4 percent from June, and machinery declined 6.8 percent. Durable goods industries posted an 11.0 percent decrease, while electrical equipment, appliances and components dropped 14.1 percent.

Computers and electronic products orders fell 17.1 percent month-over-month. Transportation equipment recorded the steepest decline among the tracked subsectors, with new orders dropping 17.7 percent.

—Posted on September 23, 2026

As of June, new orders across all manufacturing industries increased 9.1 percent year-over-year, or 58.1 billion, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The across-the-board gains point to sustained momentum in manufacturing, with every tracked industry posting positive annual growth.

Among the tracked subsectors, primary metals posted the strongest annual increase, with new orders rising 21.7 percent from June 2025. Machinery and computers and electronic products followed, both advancing 17.7 percent year-over-year. Fabricated metal products recorded a 12.4 percent increase, while durable goods industries grew 9.2 percent.

Nondurable goods industries also increased 9.1 percent annually, followed by electrical equipment, appliances and components at 8.8 percent. Transportation equipment posted a more modest 2.2 percent gain, while furniture and related products edged up 1.2 percent.

Month-over-month changes

Compared to May, total manufacturing orders increased 5.4 percent in June, or about $35.4 billion from May to June, signaling continued momentum across much of the manufacturing sector.

Computers and electronic products recorded the strongest monthly growth among the tracked subsectors, with new orders jumping 22.7 percent from May. Electrical equipment, appliances and components followed with a 16.4 percent increase, while orders for transportation equipment rose 12.5 percent.

New orders for machinery and durable goods industries also posted 9.9 percent monthly gains, while primary metals increased 6.5 percent. Growth was more modest in fabricated metal products, where new orders rose 1.3 percent, and nondurable goods industries, which recorded a 1.0 percent gain.

Furniture and related products was the only tracked subsector to decline from May, with new orders falling 1.7 percent.

—Posted on August 21, 2026

As of May, new orders increased 1.8 percent year-over-year, representing an increase of nearly $11.8 billion compared to May 2025, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The overall gain was supported by broad-based growth across several manufacturing segments, although performance varied considerably by industry.

Among the tracked subsectors, primary metals posted the strongest annual increase, with new orders rising 15.4 percent from a year earlier. Computers and electronic products followed closely, advancing 14.7 percent, while machinery recorded a 13.0 percent year-over-year gain.

Fabricated metal products also turned in a solid performance, with orders climbing 9.5 percent, while nondurable goods industries expanded 8.8 percent. Electrical equipment, appliances and components outpaced the manufacturing average as well, posting a 4.7 percent annual increase.

Not every segment shared in the growth. Orders for furniture and related products edged down 1.4 percent year-over-year, while durable goods industries declined 4.3 percent. Transportation equipment remained the weakest-performing category for another month, with new orders dropping 23.2 percent from May 2025, continuing to weigh on overall durable goods demand.

Month-over-month changes

Compared to April, total manufacturing orders slipped 1.5 percent in May, a decline of roughly $10.0 billion. The monthly pullback largely reflected continued weakness in transportation equipment, which more than offset gains across several other manufacturing categories.

Nondurable goods industries led monthly growth, with orders increasing 2.6 percent from April and accounting for the largest positive contribution during the month. Primary metals followed with a 1.6 percent gain, while fabricated metal products advanced 1.5 percent. Furniture and related products also posted a modest monthly increase of 1.1 percent.

Elsewhere, activity was relatively stable. Machinery orders were essentially unchanged from April, while computers and electronic products edged down 0.8 percent. Electrical equipment, appliances and components declined 2.1 percent, and durable goods industries fell 5.3 percent as weakness in transportation manufacturing continued to drag on the broader category. Transportation equipment recorded by far the steepest monthly decline, with orders falling 14.8 percent from April levels.

—Posted on July 24, 2026

New orders rose 12 percent year-over-year in April, or $77 billion when compared to the same month in 2025, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. On a year‑over‑year basis, all but one manufacturing industries recorded increases, highlighting broad-based strength across the sector.

Growth was particularly strong in the transportation equipment segment, which surged 39.9 percent compared with April 2025. Orders for durable goods industries came in second, up 19.2 percent. Other industries showing solid gains included computers and electronic products, with an 18.8 percent gain and primary metals, with a 13.8 percent year-over-year increase. Growth in the machinery sector also stayed in the double-digit range, rising by 11.7 percent.

Meanwhile, nondurable goods industries rose at a more moderate pace, at 7.0 percent, and electrical equipment, appliances and components recorded a relatively smaller increase of 5.8 percent.

Overall, the data point to a broad but uneven expansion, with nearly all industries posting double- or near double-digit gains. The only exception was furniture and related products, which declined by about 2.6 percent, slightly tempering otherwise widespread growth.

Month-over-month changes

On a month-over-month basis, manufacturers’ new orders declined 0.7 percent, or about $5.2 billion from March to April, signaling a slight pullback after stronger spring activity. Losses were widespread across all but one sector.

Transportation equipment was the only major category to post a monthly gain, rising 5.8 percent and partially offsetting broader declines.

Computers and electronic products recorded the steepest monthly decline, falling 16.8 percent, followed by electrical equipment and appliances at 8.8 percent. The furniture and related products segment came in third with a 4.5 percent decline.

Meanwhile, orders for machinery dropped 4.3 percent, while fabricated metal products declined nearly 2.1 percent. Primary metals overall fell 1.7 percent, while orders for durable goods slipped 1.1 percent. Orders for nondurable goods industries remained essentially flat, down just 0.4 percent.

—Posted on June 25, 2026

As of March, new orders increased 3.7 percent year-over-year, translating into $23.8 billion compared to the same month in 2025, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Growth was driven primarily by durable goods manufacturing, with several industrial and technology-oriented sectors posting solid annual gains.

Computers and electronic products recorded the strongest year-over-year increase among the tracked subsectors, climbing 14.1 percent from March 2025 levels. Primary metals followed with an 11.7 percent increase, while fabricated metal products rose 8.1 percent year-over-year.

Orders for machinery increased 7.6 percent year-over-year, followed closely by electrical equipment, appliances and components, which posted a 7.0 percent rise. Nondurable goods industries also outperformed the overall manufacturing average, advancing 4.6 percent annually, while orders for durable goods industries increased 2.8 percent.

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Furniture and related products recorded the most modest gain, edging up 0.9 percent from March 2025.

Transportation equipment was the only major category to post an annual decline, slipping 7.1 percent year-over-year and weighing on broader manufacturing activity.

Month-over-month changes

On a monthly basis, new orders rose 16.5 percent in March compared to February, increasing by approximately $95.3 billion. The monthly rebound was broad-based, with most major sectors posting gains after relatively subdued activity earlier in the quarter.

Transportation equipment recorded the strongest monthly increase, surging 24.2 percent from February levels and representing the largest contributor to March’s overall gains. Durable goods industries followed with an 18.0 percent increase, while nondurable goods industries advanced 14.8 percent month-over-month.

Fabricated metal products, computers and electronic products, as well as machinery each posted a 13.9 percent monthly gain. Electrical equipment, appliances and components rose 12.1 percent during the month, while primary metals advanced 8.4 percent, signaling continued momentum across upstream industrial activity. Furniture and related products recorded the smallest monthly increase, edging up 1.7 percent from February.

—Posted on May 27, 2026

A chart of industrial new orders through January 2026 — Source: U.S. Census Bureau

New orders increased 3.5 percent year-over-year in January, rising by $19.3 billion compared with the same month in 2025, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Industrial demand remained firm, extending its recent momentum as new orders advanced across most major manufacturing categories, reflecting resilient business investment and steady downstream demand.

On a year-over-year basis, transportation equipment posted the strongest performance, with new orders surging 19.7 percent from January 2025. Computers and electronic products followed with a 9.2 percent gain, while durable goods industries recorded a 9.1 percent increase. Primary metals also saw solid growth, climbing 6.5 percent year-over-year, signaling sustained activity tied to construction, infrastructure and heavy industrial projects.

Orders for electrical equipment, appliances and components rose 6.5 percent when compared to January 2025. Fabricated metal products increased 4.3 percent, while orders for machinery grew 4.0 percent. Furniture and related products posted a more modest 2.8 percent gain. By contrast, the nondurable goods industries segment was the only major category to decline, with new orders slipping 1.8 percent compared with a year earlier.

Month-over-month changes

On a month-over-month basis, total new orders fell 7.3 percent in January, representing a decline of about $45.5 billion from December 2025 levels. Primary metals led monthly gains, jumping nearly 6.0 percent, followed by fabricated metal products, which rose 3.9 percent. Orders for furniture and related products increased 1.2 percent.

The other sectors recorded monthly declines. Orders for machinery fell 3.8 percent, while nondurable goods dropped 3.4 percent. Electrical equipment, appliances and components declined 8.6 percent, while orders for durable goods industries fell 10.8 percent. Transportation equipment decreased 20.1 percent month-over-month, while computers and electronic products posted the sharpest drop, plunging 24.9 percent from the prior month.

—Posted on April 21, 2026

U.S. Census Bureau