US factory orders declined in December as aircraft bookings slumped
US factory orders fell 0.7 percent in December due to a drop in aircraft bookings. However, demand for AI technology and machinery remained notably strong.
Insights:
New orders for manufactured goods in the US 
US fell 0.7% in December, a decline driven largely by a sharp contraction in commercial aircraft bookings. According to the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau, the report was delayed by last year’s government shutdown, making the data particularly significant as it feeds into the final measurements for fourth-quarter GDP and overall manufacturing activity.
US fell 0.7% in December, a decline driven largely by a sharp contraction in commercial aircraft bookings. According to the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau, the report was delayed by last year’s government shutdown, making the data particularly significant as it feeds into the final measurements for fourth-quarter GDP and overall manufacturing activity.The monthly drop was heavily influenced by a 24.8% decline in commercial aircraft bookings, a category known for its extreme volatility. This followed a massive 98.2% increase in November, illustrating how month-to-month swings in orders for companies like The Boeing Company can materially alter broader manufacturing statistics. Despite this headline decrease, the broader manufacturing sector showed signs of underlying strength, with year-on-year factory orders rising 3.7%.
