US Durable Goods Orders Forecast a 2.9 Percent Decline in September

U.S. Durable Goods Orders Forecast a 2.9% Decline in September

The U.S. Census Bureau released its forecast showing that durable goods orders were expected to fall 2.9% month-on-month in September 2025, following a 0.5% decline in the previous month. The projection pointed to a potential slowdown in new orders received by manufacturers, suggesting reduced momentum in the country’s industrial and investment activity.

Durable goods—items designed to last three years or more, such as machinery, vehicles, and electronics—are a key indicator of manufacturing strength and business confidence. The forecasted decline indicated that demand for high-value goods might have softened, likely reflecting the impact of higher borrowing costs and cautious spending by corporations amid ongoing economic uncertainty.

This indicator is often seen as a leading measure of future industrial production and overall economic performance. A sharper contraction in durable goods orders could have suggested that manufacturers were bracing for slower production growth in the months ahead. While the data can be influenced by fluctuations in transportation and defense equipment, the overall trend appeared to signal moderating business investment across sectors.

Analysts noted that if the actual data matched the forecast, it might have weighed slightly on the U.S. dollar, as weaker manufacturing momentum could temper market expectations for economic growth. The official data was scheduled to be released by the Census Bureau on 27 October 2025 at 12:30 GMT, with investors closely watching for confirmation of the forecasted downturn and any indications of resilience within core durable goods categories.