June 25, 2026. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, June 25, 2026.
The performance of different sectors varies significantly by category, as detailed in the June 25, 2026 U.S. Census Bureau release for May 2026. Total new orders dropped 4.5% to $332.1 billion, a decline heavily driven by a massive pullback in aviation, while underlying core manufacturing industries actually showed resilient growth.
Sector performance across major industries highlights key areas of activity:
✈️ Transportation Equipment (The Main Drag)
- New Orders: Plunged 14.0% (or $18.5 billion) to $113.5 billion, completely reversing the sector's gains from the previous two months.
- Key Drivers: The drop was entirely triggered by nondefense aircraft and parts, which plummeted 51.8% following a massive 167.4% surge in April. Conversely, motor vehicles and parts offered a slight cushion, rising 1.1%.
💻 Core Tech & Electrical Equipment (Modest Rebound)
- Computers and Electronic Products: New orders turned positive, rising 0.3% after a 0.4% contraction in the previous month.
- Electrical Equipment, Appliances, and Components: Rebounded by 0.3%, picking up from a 0.2% decline in April.
🏗️ Primary Metals & Machinery (Steady Growth)
- Primary Metals: Continued a massive streak, leading the inventory growth by rising 1.3% to $50.9 billion—marking 15 consecutive months of inventory expansion.
- Core Business Spending: Orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft (the proxy for long-term corporate investment) climbed 1.6%, solidly beating economic projections and showing that factories are still expanding capacity.
