Overview

• Durable goods orders grew by 0.9% in February, surpassing economists' forecasts of a 1.0% decline, with total orders reaching $289.3 billion.
• Automobile orders surged by 4%, breaking a four-month losing streak, while transportation equipment orders rose by 1.5%.
• Core capital goods orders, a key indicator of business investment, fell by 0.3% after a strong 0.9% gain in January, signaling mixed trends in business spending.
• Shipments of core capital goods increased by 0.9%, suggesting robust investment in delivered goods despite broader economic uncertainty.
• Tariff-related concerns and policy uncertainty continue to weigh on business sentiment, with Q1 2025 economic growth estimates remaining below 1.5%.