2025 New Orders

By the Editors of Commercial Property Executive

March 24, 2026

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

New orders rose 6.2 percent year-over-year in December, or roughly $36.6 million compared to the same month in 2024, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Industrial demand strengthened at year’s end, with orders for goods increasing across most major manufacturing sectors and signaling continued resilience in capital-intensive industries.

On a year-over-year basis, orders for transportation equipment led growth, jumping 22.8 percent from December 2024 and reflecting sustained demand for aircraft, motor vehicles and related components. Orders for machinery increased 12.7 percent, while the durable goods industries climbed 12.6 percent. The primary metals sector followed closely with an 11.2 percent jump, pointing to steady activity in construction- and infrastructure-related supply chains.

At the same time, orders for electrical equipment, appliances and components and orders for computers and electronic products each advanced slightly more than 7 percent. Furniture and related products increased 7.0 percent, and fabricated metal products posted a 5.7 percent gain. In contrast, orders for nondurable goods were essentially flat, edging down 0.1 percent from a year earlier.

Month-over-month changes

On a month-over-month basis, new orders increased 4.9 percent in December, equivalent to about $29.2 million when compared to November. Orders for computers and electronic products recorded the sharpest monthly rise, surging 28.6 percent. The machinery segment came in second with an 11.5 percent climb, followed by the electrical equipment, appliances and components sector, which grew 9.6 percent.

Meanwhile, orders for transportation equipment climbed 8.5 percent. The durable goods industries segment recorded an 8.4 percent increase. Primary metals advanced 5.8 percent, signaling steady upstream demand, while fabricated metal products posted a more modest 2.1 percent gain. Nondurable goods also inched higher, rising 1.2 percent month over month.

In contrast, the furniture and related products segment moved in the opposite direction, declining 6.1 percent from the prior month.

—Posted on March 24, 2026

New orders rose 4.2 percent year-over-year in November, or $24.1 million when compared to the same month in 2024, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Despite the overall increase, performance across manufacturing categories remained mixed.

Transportation equipment recorded the strongest annual growth, climbing 25.4 percent from November 2024 and contributing the largest share of gains. Orders for durable goods industries advanced 10.5 percent year-over-year, underscoring continued strength in big-ticket manufacturing segments. Machinery followed with a 6.8 percent increase, while computers and electronic products rose 5.4 percent.

Fabricated metal products posted a 4.3 percent gain, and electrical equipment, appliances and components increased 3.9 percent. Primary metals saw a more modest 2.5 percent uptick, reflecting slower momentum in upstream activity.

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Further down the spectrum, furniture and related products edged up just 0.5 percent, marking the smallest increase among durable categories. Nondurable goods industries ranked last, declining 1.6 percent year-over-year and standing out as the only major segment to post an annual contraction.

Month-over-month changes

On a month-over-month basis, manufacturers’ new orders declined 4.5 percent, or about $28 million from October to November, signaling a broad pullback after stronger early fall activity. Losses were widespread across most sectors.

Transportation equipment was the only major category to post a monthly gain, rising 8.1 percent and partially offsetting broader declines.

Machinery recorded the steepest monthly decline, falling 11.4 percent, followed by primary metals at 10.7 percent and fabricated metal products at 9.9 percent. Electrical equipment, appliances and components dropped 8.7 percent, while nondurable goods industries declined 5.6 percent. Durable goods industries overall fell 3.5 percent, while computers and electronic products slipped 1.8 percent. Orders for furniture and related products remained essentially flat, down just 0.2 percent.

—Posted on Feb. 26, 2026

New orders increased 1.6 percent year-over-year in October, or approximately $10.1 million compared to the same month in 2024, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. While overall growth remained positive, gains across the manufacturing landscape were uneven.

Machinery recorded the strongest annual increase, rising 9.8 percent from October 2024 and outperforming all major manufacturing categories. Transportation equipment followed with a 6.2 percent year-over-year gain, accounting for a sizable share of total volume growth. Computers and electronic products ranked next, increasing 5.8 percent, while orders for primary metals rose 5.3 percent, reflecting continued stabilization in upstream manufacturing activity.

Further down the spectrum, durable goods industries as a whole posted a 4.7 percent annual increase. Electrical equipment, appliances and components advanced 3.3 percent, followed by furniture and related products, which edged up 2.9 percent. Fabricated metal products recorded a more modest 1.3 percent gain. Nondurable goods industries ranked last, declining 1.3 percent year-over-year and standing out as the only major category to post an annual contraction.

Month-over-month changes

On a month-over-month basis, manufacturers’ new orders declined 2.6 percent, or $16.8 million from September to October, reflecting a pullback after elevated late-summer activity. Primary metals posted the largest monthly increase, rising 1.7 percent, followed by fabricated metal products at 1.4 percent and nondurable goods industries at 1.0 percent. Machinery edged up 0.4 percent, while furniture and related products was essentially flat.

At the negative end, transportation equipment recorded the steepest monthly decline, falling 14.4 percent. Computers and electronic products followed with an 11.3 percent drop. Durable goods industries overall declined 5.9 percent, while electrical equipment, appliances and components slipped 4.7 percent.

—Posted on January 23, 2026

As of September, new orders improved 5.4 percent year-over-year, or approximately $32.6 million compared to the same month in 2024, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Growth accelerated across most subsectors, though gains remained uneven.

Transportation equipment posted the strongest annual increase, surging 19.4 percent from September 2024 and accounting for a sizable share of overall growth. Durable goods industries also recorded a solid 9.7 percent year-over-year gain.

Machinery followed closely with a 9.4 percent increase, while electrical equipment, appliances and components rose 8.2 percent. Primary metals advanced 8.1 percent, reflecting continued stabilization in upstream manufacturing activity.

Elsewhere, gains were more measured. Computers and electronic products increased 2.5 percent, while fabricated metal products posted a 2.0 percent rise. Furniture and related products saw one of the smallest annual gains, edging up 1.9 percent. Nondurable Goods Industries also lagged, increasing by just 1.0 percent year-over-year.

Month-over-month changes

On a monthly basis, new orders rose 3.3 percent, or $20.1 million, from August to September, extending the late-summer rebound. Computers and electronic products recorded the largest month-over-month increase, jumping 18.4 percent, signaling a sharp pickup following several months of subdued activity. Transportation Equipment followed with a 12.9 percent gain, while orders within the durable goods industries sector rose 7.5 percent.

Additional strength was evident in electrical equipment, appliances and components, which climbed 7.5 percent, as well as machinery, which increased 5.2 percent. Furniture and related products also posted a moderate 3.4 percent monthly gain.

At the lower end of the monthly performance spectrum, primary metals rose 1.0 percent, while fabricated metal products increased just 0.4 percent. Nondurable goods industries was the only major segment to decline month-over-month, slipping 1.0 percent.

—Posted on December 19, 2025

New orders posted a modest uptick in August, rising 2.0 percent year-over-year, or $12.4 million, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Growth was positive across most major subsectors, though performance remained uneven.

Transportation equipment registered the strongest annual momentum, climbing 12.3 percent from August 2024 and continuing to serve as the primary driver of demand. Other key durable categories posted steadier gains: durable goods industries grew 5.3 percent, while orders for computers and electronic products increased 4.0 percent.

Orders in the machinery sector were up 3.8 percent, while those in the electrical equipment, appliances and components segment rose 3.1 percent, extending the sector’s slow but consistent improvement.

Furniture and Related Products edged up 2.2 percent, while primary metals (2.1 percent) and fabricated metal products (1.8 percent) recorded smaller annual increases. The only major segment to decline year-over-year was nondurable goods industries, which slipped 1.0 percent.

Month-over-month changes

On a monthly basis, new orders improved 5.1 percent, or $30.2 million from July to August, marking a broad rebound after mid-summer softness. Transportation equipment posted the most pronounced increase, jumping 24.1 percent. Durable goods industries also strengthened, rising 9.6 percent, buoyed by an 8.3 percent gain in electrical equipment, appliances and components and a 4.9 percent increase in computers and electronic products segment.

Additional categories saw moderate improvement: fabricated metal products rose 4.8 percent, while primary metals increased 1.4 percent.

At the lower end of monthly performance, machinery, furniture and related products, as well as nondurable goods industries each posted gains of 0.9 percent, representing the smallest increases among the major categories.

—Posted on November 28, 2025

As of July, total new orders across all manufacturing industries increased by 1.8 percent, or approximately $10.2 million, compared to the same month in 2024, data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows. The electrical equipment, appliances and components segment led the expansion, posting a 7.1 percent gain, followed closely by machinery, which advanced 6.5 percent.

The computers and electronic products category also saw a solid rise of 5.6 percent, while primary metals grew by 4.4 percent. Broader categories contributed as well: durable goods industries registered a 3.7 percent increase, supported by a 3.5 percent gain in transportation equipment. Fabricated metal products climbed 2.6 percent, adding to the overall positive trend.

By contrast, the nondurable goods industries sector remained virtually unchanged, while furniture and related products posted a modest decline of 0.5 percent.

Month-over-month growth

On a monthly basis, however, new orders contracted significantly. Between June and July, total orders dropped by 7.7 percent, or about $48.8 million, reflecting broad-based weakness across most sectors.

The sharpest pullback occurred in transportation equipment, which fell 27.0 percent. computers and electronic products also experienced a steep decline of 16.1 percent, while durable goods industries overall dropped 14.0 percent. The electrical equipment, appliances and components segment slipped 11.9 percent, underscoring the widespread downturn.

Other categories recorded smaller contractions: machinery fell 5.5 percent, and fabricated metal products declined 4.9 percent. Primary metals slipped 2.5 percent, while furniture and related products held nearly steady at -0.2 percent. The nondurable goods industries sector proved comparatively resilient but still edged down 0.8 percent month-over-month.

—Posted on September 23, 2025

As of June, new orders rose by 6.6 percent year-over-year, or $39.5 million, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. The transportation equipment sector led the expansion, posting a 31.0 percent increase compared to the same month last year. Durable goods industries also saw robust growth, climbing 12.6 percent, while electrical equipment, appliances and components advanced by 8.9 percent.

Several other sectors reported moderate gains. Orders for computers and electronic products increased by 6.0 percent, followed by fabricated metal products and machinery, which rose 5.1 percent each.

Primary metals and furniture, along with related products posted smaller gains of 1.7 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, nondurable goods industries experienced a modest uptick of 0.8 percent year-over-year.

Month-over-month growth

Between May and June, total new orders declined by 1.5 percent, or $10.1 million, reflecting mixed performance across industry segments. While some sectors posted notable increases, others saw contractions.

The most significant monthly gain occurred in computers and electronic products, where orders surged by 19.3 percent. Electrical equipment, appliances and components followed with a 12.7 percent increase, and machinery rose by 5.3 percent. Primary metals edged up by 1.1 percent, while nondurable goods industries registered a slight 0.9 percent increase.

Conversely, transportation equipment experienced a sharp 15.4 percent drop in orders. Furniture and related products declined by 4.1 percent, and durable goods industries fell by 3.8 percent. Fabricated metal products also saw a 1.4 percent decrease month-over-month.

—Posted on August 27, 2025

As of May, new orders rose by 7.9 percent year-over-year, or approximately $47.5 million, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. The transportation equipment sector once again led the expansion, surging by 54.4 percent compared to May 2024. Durable goods industries also posted a significant increase, rising 17.5 percent from the previous year.

Gains were seen across several other categories as well. Orders for computers and electronic products ticked up by 3.1 percent year-over-year, while the machinery sector posted a 2.7 percent increase. Electrical equipment, appliances and components grew modestly, up 1.9 percent, and fabricated metal products remained nearly flat but positive.

In contrast, primary metals declined slightly, down 1.6 percent from May 2024. Nondurable goods industries also slipped, decreasing by 1.1 percent year-over-year. The furniture and related products segment dipped by 1.0 percent.

Month-over-month growth

Between April and May, new orders jumped by 9.4 percent, or $55.4 million. Transportation equipment posted the strongest growth, climbing 55.1 percent in a single month. Orders for durable goods industries grew by 18.0 percent, while computers and electronic products rose by 2.9 percent.

Fabricated metal products saw a 2.1 percent monthly increase, while nondurable goods industries rose slightly, posting a 1.0 percent gain compared to April.

Primary metals remained essentially flat with a slight 0.1 percent decline. Electrical equipment, appliances and components dipped marginally, down 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, furniture and related products edged down 0.9 percent month-over-month, while the machinery sector also recorded a modest decline of 1.2 percent.

—Posted on July 25, 2025

As of April, new orders edged up by 0.6 percent year-over-year, or $3.6 million, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The most notable growth was seen in the Transportation Equipment sector, which posted a 5.5 percent annual increase. The Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components segment also expanded, rising 4.9 percent compared to April 2024, while the Furniture and Related Products sector recorded a 3.6 percent year-over-year gain.

Other sectors also posted steady growth. Orders for Durable Goods Industries advanced by 2.6 percent, while the Computers and Electronic Products segment rose by 2.2 percent. The Machinery and Fabricated Metal Products sectors grew by 2.0 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Primary Metals recorded a slight dip, down 0.4 percent year-over-year. The only notable decline came from Nondurable Goods Industries, which slipped by 1.3 percent compared to April 2024.

Month-over-month growth

Between March and April, new orders decreased by 8.9 percent, or $58.1 million. The most substantial monthly decline occurred in the Transportation Equipment sector, where orders dropped 29.7 percent. The Computers and Electronic Products segment also posted a sharp contraction of 19.9 percent, while Durable Goods Industries saw orders retreat by 14.7 percent.

Orders for Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components were down 7.9 percent month-over-month, while Fabricated Metal Products decreased by 3.9 percent. The Primary Metals sector also saw a 3.5 percent decline, and orders for Machinery decreased by 3.3 percent from the previous month.

At the same time, orders for Nondurable Goods Industries recorded a slight month-over-month decrease of 2.5 percent, while the Furniture and Related Products segment declined by 0.8 percent during the same period.

—Posted on June 27, 2025

As of March, manufacturers’ new orders rose by an average of 5.8 percent year-over-year, or $35.5 million, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The most substantial growth was recorded in the transportation equipment sector, which surged by 27.0 percent. This was followed by the durable goods industries segment, which posted a 10.9 percent increase, while the electrical equipment, appliances and components segment rounded up the top three with a 10.6 percent increase.

The primary metals category saw orders climb 5.4 percent, while the computers and electronic products segment recorded a 4.1 percent uptick. The fabricated metal products sector also expanded, with a 2.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The machinery and nondurable goods industries sectors registered a more modest gain of 0.7 percent.

Most surveyed sectors reported year-over-year growth. The only decline came from the furniture and related products segment, which slipped 0.3 percent.

Month-over-month growth

Between February and March, new orders jumped by 18.1 percent, or $99.3 million. The largest monthly increase occurred in the transportation equipment sector, where orders soared by 52.9 percent. The durable goods industries also posted a notable 25.8 percent gain, while the computers and electronic products segment grew by 25.2 percent.

Demand remained strong in the electrical equipment, appliances and components segment, which rose by 12.9 percent, while fabricated metal products climbed 11.5 percent. Machinery orders were up 11.4 percent for the month.

The nondurable goods industries contributed to the overall growth as well, with a 10.6 percent increase. Meanwhile, orders for primary metals grew by 7.1 percent, and the furniture and related products segment rose by 3.9 percent.

—Posted on May 28, 2025

As of February, new orders declined by an average of 0.3 percent year-over-year, totaling $1.9 million, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Nearly all industries posted losses, while only four reported gains.

The transportation equipment sector led the way with a 4.3 percent increase compared to February 2024. Close behind, the computers and electronic products segment registered a 2.3 percent gain. Orders in the electrical equipment, appliances and components category expanded by 1.2 percent, while the durable goods industries reported a more modest rise of 0.5 percent.

Meanwhile, several industries saw notable declines. The furniture and related products sector experienced the steepest year-over-year drop, with orders falling 3.1 percent. The machinery industry followed, posting a 2.9 percent decrease. Orders in the fabricated metal products sector were down 1.4 percent, while the nondurable goods industries segment recorded a 1.1 percent decline. The primary metals segment saw a slight contraction of 0.1 percent.

Month-over-month growth

From January to February this year, new orders declined by 0.4 percent, amounting to $2.2 million. Despite the overall decrease, five sectors showed positive momentum. The transportation equipment sector led monthly growth with a 7.1 percent surge. The furniture and related products industry bounced back with a 5 percent increase. The electrical equipment, appliances and components segment grew 2.7 percent, followed by a 2.4 percent rise in the durable goods industries. The computers and electronic products sector also posted a 1.8 percent gain.

On the other hand, the nondurable goods industries registered the sharpest monthly decline, with orders falling 2.9 percent. The machinery sector slipped 0.9 percent, followed by a 0.5 percent drop in the fabricated metal products segment. The primary metals industry saw a smaller decrease of 0.4 percent.

—Posted on April 28, 2025

A chart of industrial new orders through January 2024 — Source: U.S. Census Bureau

As of January, new orders increased by an average of 3.5 percent, or $18.6 million, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The most significant rise compared to January 2024 occurred in the transportation equipment sector, which saw a 10.5 percent surge. The durable goods industries sector posted a 4.3 percent gain, while the computers and electronic products segment rose by 3.4 percent. Orders in the nondurable goods industries sector grew by 2.8 percent, and primary metals followed with a 2.6 percent increase.

Year-over-year, nearly all surveyed manufacturing industries showed growth, except for the furniture and related products sector, which saw a slight decline of 0.7 percent. In contrast, the machinery sector rose by 1.0 percent, and the fabricated metal products segment saw a 1.6 percent increase.

Month-over-month growth

On a month-over-month basis, new orders fell by an average of 5.2 percent, or $30.6 million as of January. Unlike the yearly trend, only four sectors experienced positive growth. Primary metals saw a 10.4 percent increase, orders for fabricated metal products grew by 6.4 percent, while furniture and related products increased by 4.3 percent. The machinery sector experienced a small gain of 0.7 percent.

The largest drop occurred in the computers and electronic products segment, which plummeted by 25.5 percent. Orders for the transportation equipment sector fell by 19.5 percent, durable goods industries saw an 8.8 percent decrease and the electrical equipment, appliances and components sector dropped by 5.6 percent. Nondurable goods industries also recorded a 1.8 percent decline.

—Posted on March 25, 2025

U.S. Census Bureau