The U.S. Census Bureau released the delayed February durable goods report on April 7, 2026. Overall orders fell by an unexpected 1.4%.
New orders for non-defense aircraft and parts plunged 28.6%. This significant decline drove the negative headline number. The report was originally scheduled for release on March 25.
Excluding the transportation sector, new orders increased by 0.8%. This marks the tenth consecutive monthly rise for that category. The data suggests business investment remains firm outside of the aerospace industry.
The downturn may negatively impact aerospace manufacturers and suppliers within the XAR ETF. Commercial aviation faces cooling global demand, while global tensions continue to buoy the defense sector.