The U.S. Census Bureau reported that new orders for manufactured durable goods increased 1.8% in September to a seasonally adjusted $345.4B, following a revised 0.1% increase in August and marking gains in six of the last seven months. Transportation equipment led the advance, climbing 4.6% to $119.8B, with nondefense aircraft and parts orders surging 28.4% to $25.3B, while new orders excluding transportation rose 0.5% to $225.6B and orders excluding defense increased 2.2% to $321.1B. Shipments of durable goods rebounded 0.9% to $336.8B following August’s 0.2% decline, while unfilled orders expanded 0.8% to $1,623.6B, up 9.0% year over year, and total inventories edged up 0.3% to $610.0B, up 3.4% year over year. Underlying business investment indicators remained positive, with core capital goods orders (nondefense excluding aircraft) rising 0.5% to $88.0B and shipments increasing 1.2% to $86.1B; year to date, durable goods orders and shipments were up 8.0% and 8.5%, respectively, from the comparable period in 2025.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced that it will maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3.75% to 4.00% in a 10-2 vote. The October FOMC statement noted that "Economic activity is expanding at a strong pace" with robust capital investment and resilient domestic spending, while cautioning that "Inflation remains elevated". Governors Lisa D. Cook and Beth M. Hammack dissented from the decision, preferring to raise the rate by 0.25 percentage points. To implement this stance, the Board of Governors maintained the interest rate paid on reserve balances at 3.90% and the primary credit rate at 4.00%. Additionally, Chairman Warsh announced a structural shift in the FOMC calendar, dedicating one of its eight meetings in 2027 and two in 2028 exclusively to broad monetary policy strategy without a rate vote.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.4% in the third quarter of 2026, accelerating from a 2.2% increase in the second quarter. Growth was driven by gains in investment, consumer spending, and government spending, partly offset by a decline in exports. Consumer spending increased in both services and goods, while investment gains primarily reflected increases in private inventory investment and equipment. Government spending also increased, led by federal nondefense consumption expenditures. Imports increased as well, subtracting from GDP. The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 3.0%, down from 5.6% in the second quarter, while the PCE price index rose 2.1%, compared with 5.0% in the previous quarter. The PCE price index excluding food and energy increased 2.5%, down from 3.3% in the second quarter.