The U.S. Census Bureau reported a significant increase in durable goods orders for April, which rose by 7.9% to reach $346.0 billion. This figure exceeded analysts' expectations of a 3.5% increase, following a revised 1.3% rise in March. Notably, orders excluding transportation equipment increased by 1.1%, while those excluding defense saw an impressive 8.1% rise. The surge in orders was primarily driven by transportation equipment, which experienced a 21.5% increase, contributing $23.1 billion to the total. Despite the overall positive trend, non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft fell by 1.1%, diverging from expectations of growth. The durable goods report is a critical measure of manufacturing activity and business investment in the U.S., influencing GDP estimates and economic forecasts. Analysts often focus on core metrics that provide a clearer view of underlying trends, given the volatility associated with large aircraft and defense orders.