The U.S. manufacturing sector strengthened in July 2026, with the ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 55.6, up from 53.3 in June 2026. The latest reading, updated on 3 August 2026, signals a faster pace of expansion in factory activity across the country.
A PMI above 50 points to growth in the manufacturing sector, and the continued climb from June to July suggests improving business conditions and potentially stronger underlying demand. The July figure indicates that U.S. manufacturers are experiencing a more robust operating environment compared with the previous month, reinforcing the view that industrial activity is on an upward trajectory as the second half of the year begins.
