The pace of new orders in the U.S. manufacturing sector slowed in February, as the ISM Manufacturing New Orders Index eased to 55.8 from 57.1 in January 2026. The latest reading, updated on 2 March 2026, still signals expansion in factory demand but points to a moderation in growth momentum.
January’s figure of 57.1 marked a stronger phase of order growth, and the February dip suggests that while manufacturers continue to see rising demand, the acceleration evident at the start of the year has cooled somewhat. An index level above 50 continues to indicate expansion in new orders, implying that the manufacturing sector remains on an overall growth path.
Market participants and policymakers are likely to watch upcoming data closely to determine whether February’s decline is a temporary pause after a strong January, or an early sign that demand is normalizing after previous gains in the manufacturing cycle.
