Stable Manufacturing Sector in the US: An Overview of Global Economic Trends

The August General Manufacturing PMI (Purchasing Managers' Index) published by S&P Global maintained at 53.9, signaling a solid expansion in operational conditions within the U.S. manufacturing sector. This result confirms a continuous increase in production for the 15th consecutive month but with a noticeable deceleration, recorded as the weakest since February. New orders increased at a steady pace and remained largely unchanged from July, driven mainly by domestic demand. However, exports declined for the 14th consecutive month, with tariffs and uncertainty due to the Middle East war weighing on foreign sales. There was an increase in purchasing activities and pre-production inventories; however, manufacturers continued reporting difficulties sourcing and receiving raw materials due to supply delays and price increases. These pressures were commonly linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Business confidence reached a three-month high, supporting the fastest rate of hiring so far in 2026.