United States: Capital goods orders reassuringly resilient

Chart of the week

Nondefense capital goods orders excluding aircraft rose 1.2% in October. This takes them back to their July level and close to current cycle highs, following two straight falls in August and September.

Our analysis

Amid uncertainty driven by the US–Chinese trade talks and a manufacturing sector slowdown, US businesses have scaled back their investment spending since the summer, as shown by the third-quarter GDP numbers. Nonresidential investment fell 2.7% on an annualised basis, penalised by falling investment in structures and equipment. Only investment in intellectual property rights (software, patents and content creation, in particular), which by nature is less cyclical, continued to progress.

Some analysts are concerned that the quarters ahead could see investment continuing to fall and taking the rest of the economy along with it. The relative stability of nondefense capital goods orders excluding aircraft is a reassuring sign.

 

See also :

United States: reassuring signs from the property market

 

The opinion expressed above is dated 28 November 2019, and liable to change.

This document is not pre-contractual or contractual in nature. It is provided for information purposes. The analyses and descriptions contained in this document shall not be interpreted as being advice or recommendations on the part of Lazard Frères Gestion SAS. This document does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or sell, nor an encouragement to invest. This document is the intellectual property of Lazard Frères Gestion SAS. LAZARD FRERES GESTION – a simplified joint stock company with share capital of €14,487,500 – Paris Trade and Companies Registry No. 352 213 599. 25, RUE DE COURCELLES – 75008 PARIS, FRANCE