Institute for Supply Management

TEMPE – November 04, 2026 -- The ISM Services PMI registered 54.5 percent in October, the 28th consecutive month of expansion, while the Prices Index held at 73 percent and the Backlog of Orders Index climbed to 58 percent, its highest reading since July 2022.

The headline figure is down 0.4 percentage point from September's 54.9 percent. It sits 0.2 percentage point above the 12-month average of 54.3 percent. That average has now risen for 10 straight months.

Business Activity and New Orders Cool, While Employment Strengthens

The Business Activity Index fell 2.7 percentage points to 53.8 percent from 56.5 percent. The New Orders Index dropped 3.9 percentage points to 55.9 percent from 59.8 percent. Both readings are below their 12-month averages.

Tempe, Ariz. – November 02, 2026 -- The ISM Manufacturing PMI rose to 55.5 percent in October from 54.5 percent in September, marking the 10th consecutive month of expansion in U.S. manufacturing. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported that the overall economy has now expanded for 24 consecutive months.

Production Index jumps 2.3 points to 59 percent, highest since November 2021

The Production Index rose from 56.7 percent to 59 percent, its highest reading since November 2021 (60.5 percent). It has expanded for 12 months in a row, and the ratio of positive to negative comments improved to 2-to-1 from 1.6-to-1 in September.

The New Orders Index expanded for the 10th straight month after four consecutive contraction readings, registering 55.5 percent versus 55.3 percent in September. The Backlog of Orders Index fell 1.8 points to 54.6 percent. The New Export Orders Index gained 0.3 point to 51.2 percent.

Tempe – September 12, 2026 -- Institute for Supply Management (ISM), the world's largest professional association for supply chain and procurement, has appointed Neal J. Couture, CAE, FASAE, as its next president and chief executive officer, effective September 12, 2026.

ISM Board completes global search to select next leader

The ISM Board of Directors selected Couture following a comprehensive global search to guide the organization's next phase of growth, member value and global professional impact. Stacey Taylor, MBA, Chair of the ISM Board of Directors, said Couture's track record of leadership, innovation and member engagement aligned closely with ISM's mission.

Tempe, Ariz. – – September 07, 2026 -- U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for an eighth straight month in August, but the pace cooled as the ISM Manufacturing PMI fell to 54.6%, down 1 percentage point from July's 55.6%, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The reading marks the sector's recovery from a 10-month contraction and corresponds to an estimated 2.4% annualized increase in real GDP, ISM said. The broader U.S. economy has now expanded for 22 consecutive months.

New orders and backlogs lose momentum as demand sentiment softens

The New Orders Index dropped 3 points to 53.7% from 56.7% in July, while the Backlog of Orders Index fell 3.2 points to 51.8%. The positive-to-negative comment ratio on demand narrowed to 2-to-1 in August from 3.5-to-1 the prior month. New Export Orders bucked the trend, edging up 0.2 point to 53.2%.