U.S. manufacturing activity expanded in September for a fourth straight month, even as growth slowed from recent highs, with business confidence improving and price pressures cooling, according to an S&P Global report.
S&P Global’s flash Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), released on Sept. 23, showed that the manufacturing activity index came in at 52.0 in September, down slightly from 53.0 in August, signaling continued growth in factory conditions. Readings above 50 indicate expansion.
The broader U.S. composite output index, which includes services activity, eased to 53.6 from 54.6, marking a three-month low but still pointing to expansion.
The report described business activity growth as “robust,” though it also showed that firms faced somewhat softer demand and limited ability to raise prices despite elevated tariff-driven input costs….