Updated: 05-Jan-26 10:21 ET
Highlights
- The ISM Manufacturing Index checked in at 47.9% for December (Briefing.com consensus: 48.4%), down from 48.2% in November.
- The dividing line between expansion and contraction is 50.0%, so the December figure, which is the tenth straight month below 50.0%, suggests manufacturing activity contracted at a faster pace than the prior month.
- The New Orders Index edged up to 47.7% from 47.4% in November.
- The Production Index dipped to 51.0% from 51.4% in November.
- The Prices Index held steady at 58.5% in December.
- The Employment Index rose to 44.9% from 44.0% in November.
- The Backlog of Orders Index increased to 45.8% from 44.0% in November.
- The Supplier Deliveries Index jumped to 50.8% from 49.3% in November.
- The New Export Orders Index elevated to 46.8% from 46.2% in November.
- The key takeaway from the report is that the manufacturing sector operated in a state of contraction for the tenth consecutive month, with tariffs and weaker order activity cited as key drags on overall activity.
| Category | DEC | NOV | OCT | SEP | AUG |
| Total Index | 47.9 | 48.2 | 48.7 | 49.1 | 48.7 |
| Orders | 47.7 | 47.4 | 49.4 | 48.9 | 51.4 |
| Production | 51.0 | 51.4 | 48.2 | 51.0 | 47.8 |
| Employment | 44.9 | 44.0 | 46.0 | 45.3 | 43.8 |
| Deliveries | 50.8 | 49.3 | 54.2 | 52.6 | 51.3 |
| Inventories | 45.2 | 48.9 | 45.8 | 47.7 | 49.4 |
| Export Orders | 46.8 | 46.2 | 44.5 | 43.0 | 47.6 |
| Prices paid (not seas adj) | 58.5 | 58.5 | 58.0 | 61.9 | 63.7 |
