US Factory Orders Jumped 1.8% in September, Beating Expectations
Direct answer: US factory orders rose 1.8% in September 2026, to $677.2 billion, beating expectations. The rise shows factories received more new orders in September than in August, even though much of the durable goods data was already known.
What happened
The US Census Bureau reported on November 3, 2026 that total factory orders rose 1.8% in September, from a revised $665 billion in August to $677.2 billion. Dow Jones Newswires, via TradingView, reported that economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had expected a smaller 1.3% increase.
Orders excluding transportation rose 0.5%. That matters because transportation, which includes aircraft, can swing sharply from month to month and hide the broader trend.
The report also revised durable goods orders higher, to a 1.9% rise in September, from the 1.8% first reported in the advance durable goods release. Durable goods excluding transportation were unchanged at 0.5%, and durable goods excluding defense were revised to 2.3%, from 2.2%. Nondefense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a gauge of business equipment spending, were revised to 0.6%, from 0.5%.
The factory orders report was released at the same time as the September job openings report, which showed openings jumping to 7.52 million. For more on that jobs signal, see our post on US job openings jumping in September.
Why it matters for beginners
Factory orders are a simple demand signal. When orders rise, factories have more work coming in. When they fall, demand is cooling.
Think of it like a restaurant order book. A fuller order book means the kitchen stays busy. It does not guarantee profits, and it does not mean every factory is doing well, but it is one sign that manufacturing demand held up in September.
The revision to durable goods also matters. The advance report covers only durable goods, which last three years or more. The full factory orders report adds nondurable goods, such as food, chemicals, paper and petroleum products, and gives a more complete picture.
What to watch next
Watch whether factory orders keep rising in October, and whether the core equipment gauge, nondefense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, keeps improving. That gauge feeds into estimates of business investment in GDP.
Also watch the next jobs and inflation data. Stronger factory demand, alongside strong job openings, could keep pressure on prices and on interest rate expectations. That does not mean rates will rise, but it is part of why markets watch these reports closely.
FAQ
What are factory orders?
Factory orders are new orders received by US manufacturers in a month. They cover durable goods, such as machinery and aircraft, and nondurable goods, such as food and chemicals.
Why did factory orders beat expectations?
Total orders rose 1.8%, above the 1.3% increase expected in The Wall Street Journal poll reported by Dow Jones Newswires. Orders excluding transportation also rose 0.5%, showing the gain was not only about aircraft.
Does this mean the economy is booming?
No. One month of factory orders is only one signal. It points to solid manufacturing demand in September, but it should be read alongside jobs, consumer spending, inflation and other data before drawing a broad conclusion.
