The U.S. non-manufacturing sector showed a notable acceleration in July, as the ISM Non-Manufacturing Business Activity index rose to 59.1, up from 55.4 in June 2026. The latest reading, updated on 5 August 2026, points to a faster pace of expansion in services-related activity across the economy.
The move from mid-50s to just above 59 suggests that business activity in the services sector — which includes areas such as retail, finance, healthcare, and hospitality — strengthened meaningfully over the month. An index level above 50 typically indicates expansion, and the July figure highlights that service providers are experiencing more robust demand and operational growth than in the prior month.
With business activity in the non-manufacturing space picking up in July, the data underline the continued importance of the services sector as a driver of U.S. economic growth during mid-2026, following the solid but more moderate expansion reported in June.
