U.S. manufacturing activity climbed in June, fueled by strong domestic demand and tariff-driven stockpiling, according to a new report from S&P Global, which showed an acceleration in both factory output and employment—alongside a renewed surge in inflationary pressures.
Released on June 23, the report revealed that the manufacturing output index rose to 51.5 in June, up from 49.4 in May. That marks the first reading above the neutral 50 threshold—which separates expansion from contraction—since February, signaling a return to growth in the factory sector as firms ramped up production and hiring to meet stronger demand.
Hiring accelerated broadly in June, with manufacturing job creation reaching a 12-month high and service-sector hiring hitting its fastest pace in five months as businesses responded to mounting workloads….