The Institute for Supply Management's Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the United States recorded a decline to 50.0 in September 2025, down from 52.0 in August. Released on October 3, 2025, the data signposts a deceleration in the service sector's expansion, marking the slowest growth rate since last year.
The PMI reading is significant because it hovers closely above the crucial 50.0 threshold, a demarcation line that separates growth from contraction. The reduction signals that the non-manufacturing sector, encompassing industries like retail, healthcare, and finance, is experiencing sluggish expansion and could hint at broader economic challenges ahead.
Economic analysts are observing this trend with keen interest, as the service sector forms a substantial part of the national economy. As businesses recalibrate their strategies to adapt to this cooling growth, stakeholders are keeping a close watch on further developments in the hope of averting a potential downturn.
