In March, companies rushed to place orders for durable goods as they anticipated tariff announcements from President Trump. This led to a substantial rise of 9.2% in durable goods orders, a notable jump compared to February's 0.9% increase and far surpassing the 1.6% prediction. Businesses moved to secure goods before Trump's early April announcement of tariffs aimed at impacting trade negotiations temporarily. The Federal Reserve reported this strategy as firms sought to manage costs, and the Beige Book highlighted increased vehicle sales amid these preemptive initiatives.