US factory orders post biggest gain in 11 months in April

New U.S. industrial orders posted the biggest increase in nearly a year in April amid strong demand for commercial aircraft and a range of other products.

Orders rose 4.8% in the month, the biggest increase since May 2025, after an upwardly revised increase of 1.8% in March, the Commerce Department reported on Wednesday (3).

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast orders would rise 4.6%, following a 1.5% rise previously reported in March.

In April, orders increased 6.0% compared to the previous year. Manufacturing, which accounts for 9.4% of the economy, is being supported by a boom in artificial intelligence (AI) spending, although the US and Israeli war on Iran poses a downside risk.

The three-month conflict has disrupted the transport of commodities and increased prices for products such as energy, aluminum and fertilizers.

Commercial aircraft orders increased 165.9%, after falling 23.0% in March. Boeing said it received 136 orders in April, most of them for more expensive models. This number was compared to 33 orders in March.

Source: CNN