Manufacturing orders across the United States experienced their most significant monthly jump in nearly a year during April, driven by robust demand for commercial aircraft and numerous other manufactured goods.
The Commerce Department’s Census Bureau announced Wednesday that factory orders climbed 4.8%, representing the strongest monthly performance since May 2025. This followed an upwardly adjusted 1.8% growth in March. Economic analysts surveyed by Reuters had predicted a 4.6% increase, following what was initially reported as a 1.5% March gain.
Year-over-year comparisons showed orders climbing 6.0% in April. The manufacturing sector, representing 9.4% of the nation’s economy, continues benefiting from increased artificial intelligence-related spending, though the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran creates potential economic risks.
The three-month military conflict has significantly disrupted commodity shipping routes and inflated costs for energy, aluminum, and fertilizer products. A Monday survey from the Institute for Supply Management revealed that supplier delivery performance deteriorated for the sixth straight month in May, maintaining elevated input costs.
Commercial aircraft orders experienced a dramatic 165.9% surge following a 23.0% decline in March. Boeing’s website indicated the company secured 136 orders during April, predominantly for higher-priced aircraft models, compared to just 33 orders the previous month.
Primary metals orders grew 2.0%, while fabricated metal products bookings increased 3.5%. Machinery orders advanced 0.7%, and electrical equipment, appliances, and components saw 0.5% growth. Motor vehicle bodies, parts, and trailers also posted gains. However, computers and electronic products orders fell 0.7%, with computer orders specifically dropping 2.5%.
The Census Bureau additionally reported that non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, considered an indicator of business equipment investment intentions, decreased 1.0% in April rather than the previously estimated 1.1% decline. Shipments of these core capital goods increased 0.4% as initially reported.
