GrowthInstitute for Supply ManagementMonthly

ISM Manufacturing PMI

What is ISM Manufacturing PMI?

Diffusion index measuring manufacturing sector activity. Above 50 = expansion.

Why it matters

The single most watched leading indicator for U.S. economic direction.

How to read prints

When it rises

Manufacturing expanding (>50); cyclical demand firm.

When it falls

Manufacturing contracting (<50); recession signal at sustained sub-45.

Frequently asked

What is the ISM Manufacturing PMI?
A diffusion index from a monthly survey of purchasing managers at U.S. manufacturing firms. 50 is the expansion/contraction line.
When is it released?
First business day of each month at 10 AM ET, for the prior month.
What sub-indices matter most?
New Orders (forward demand), Prices Paid (input inflation), Employment (jobs leading indicator), and Backlogs.
How does it move markets?
Surprises move bond yields, the dollar, and cyclicals (industrials, materials, energy) more than the broad market.

Track it on Market Ontology

Monitor ISM Manufacturing PMI in real time on Growth & Real Economy, alongside regime classification, transmission mapping, and cross-asset context.

SourceInstitute for Supply Management
FrequencyMonthly
CategoryGrowth
FRED SeriesNAPM
Unitindex
Related ModuleGrowth & Real Economy

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