what are durable goods orders 
durable goods orders is a broad based monthly survey conducted by the u s census bureau that measures current industrial activity and is used as an economic indicator by investors understanding durable goods ordersdurable goods orders reflect new orders placed with domestic manufacturers for delivery of long lasting manufactured goods durable goods in the near term or future the change in the total value of new orders is measured and shared with the public in two releases per month the advance report on durable goods and the manufacturers shipments inventories and orders durable goods are expensive items that last three years or more as a result companies purchase them infrequently examples include machinery and equipment such as computer equipment industrial machinery and raw steel as well as more expensive items such as steam shovels tanks and airplanes commercial planes make up a significant component of durable goods for the u s economy if a large order for some of these items comes through one month it can skew the month to month results for that reason many analysts will look at durable goods orders excluding the defense and transportation sectors 