The pace of new orders in the U.S. manufacturing sector strengthened in September, as the ISM Manufacturing New Orders Index rose to 55.3, up from 53.7 in August 2026. The latest reading, updated on 1 October 2026, points to a further expansion in demand, with the index moving deeper into growth territory above the 50-point threshold.
The gain of 1.6 points over the month suggests that U.S. manufacturers are seeing a firmer pipeline of incoming business, which may support production levels and related employment in the short term. While the data do not detail sector breakdowns or contributing factors, the consecutive increases from August to September 2026 indicate improving momentum in manufacturing activity across the United States.
