The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing purchasing managers' index, or PMI, rose to 55.5 in October from 54.5 in September, ISM said Nov. 2. A reading above 50 signals that U.S. factory activity is expanding. The sector expanded for the 10th consecutive month, ISM said.
The PMI was 55.5 in October, above the 50 line, up 1.0 point from September.
New orders were 55.5, production 59.0 and employment 52.4.
The prices index was 75.2. ISM said that reading shows raw materials prices rose for the 25th straight month.
What did the October 2026 ISM manufacturing PMI show?
The PMI combines five survey gauges: new orders, production, employment, supplier deliveries and inventories. In October, 12 of the 18 manufacturing industries ISM tracks reported growth and three reported contraction, according to the October 2026 Manufacturing PMI Report.
The index averaged 52.8 over the past year through October, with a low of 47.9 and a high of 55.6, ISM's table shows. Silvia News previewed the October jobs report and ISM surveys.
How did ISM's sub-indexes move in October?
New orders rose 0.2 point to 55.5, and production rose 2.3 points to 59.0. Employment was 52.4, which ISM classified as growing, at a slower rate.
Supplier deliveries were 59.1. For this index, a reading above 50 means slower deliveries. Inventories were 51.4 (growing, from contracting), and prices were 75.2, from 77.9 in September.
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Next ISM manufacturing report
ISM releases its November Manufacturing PMI Report on Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. ET.
Sources: Institute for Supply Management, October 2026 Manufacturing PMI Report.
Silvia News is for information only and is not investment advice.
