January Durable Goods Orders Unexpectedly Hold Steady as Transportation Equipment Weighs

01:26 PM EDT, 03/13/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Demand for US durable goods unexpectedly held firm in January amid a drop in transportation equipment orders, official data showed Friday.

Orders for tangible items with an average life of at least three years were virtually unchanged at $321.19 billion in January, following a 0.9% drop the prior month, the Census Bureau said. The consensus was for a 1.1% increase for January in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

The Census Bureau said transportation equipment weighed the most on overall demand in January, down 0.9% amid a 24% slump in the defense aircraft component. Motor vehicles slipped 0.4%, while the nondefense aircraft component rose 3.8%.

New orders for computers and electronic products increased 0.8%, which Oxford Economics said is attributable to an artificial intelligence buildout.

"The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will increase the after-tax return on both AI and non-AI investments," Oxford Lead US Economist Bernard Yaros said in remarks e-mailed to MT Newswires. "Nevertheless, uncertainty tied to trade policy and the price of oil are emerging risks for the business investment outlook."

Last month, the US Supreme Court invalidated President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs imposed in 2025 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Following that decision, Trump announced a 10% global tariff, which he later said would rise to 15%.

Oil prices have spiked recently following the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran amid supply disruptions, particularly through the key Strait of Hormuz.

Excluding transportation, durable goods orders rose 0.4% in January, following a 1.3% gain the month prior. Wall Street was looking for a 0.5% increase in January.

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