Economic Trends

April U.S. Durable Goods Orders Slide to End 4-Month Climb

U.S. durable goods orders declined in April for the first time in four months, led by a sharp drop in transportation equipment.

May 27, 2025

U.S. monthly manufactured durable goods declined $19.9 billion or 6.3% in April from March, according to an advance report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Released May 27, the report showed that April orders decreased to $296.3 billion. This was the first decline following four consecutive monthly increases, including a 7.6% increase in March (9.2% in its original estimate) and a 0.9% increase in February.

MDM’s 1Q25 MarketPulse Report (store link)

But the considerable April pullback wasn’t a surprise. Economists polled by national media outlets expected a 7.8% monthly decline.

The April decrease was driven by transportation equipment — down following four consecutive monthly increases — which rapidly declined by 17.1% vs. March. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.2% compared to March. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 7.5%.

Capital goods decreased 14.6% month-over-month.

Get Our 1Q25 MDM Forecast Report (Premium access here)

Shipment of manufactured goods — up five consecutive months — increased 0.4% to $300.6 billion month-over-month. This followed a March increased of 0.1%.

Unfilled orders for durable goods in April — up 11 of the last 12 months — remained unchanged month-over-month. This followed a March increase of 2.0%.

April’s inventories for durable goods — up seven consecutive months — increased 0.1% to $586.7 billion month-over-month. This followed a 0.1% increase in March.

U.S. April Durable Goods Orders

source: tradingeconomics.com

The Bureau will release its final report for April durable goods orders on June 3.

In the Store: MDM’s U.S. MRO Market Trends Report

Here is how monthly new orders and shipments of different durable goods product categories fare in April, seasonally adjusted, according to the Census Bureau’s advance data:

Primary Metals