Supply management · Friday, September 4, 2026
ISM Services PMI rises to 55.4 in August; employment still contracts
The File desk · Sep 4, 2026, 12:16 PM UTC
Status
Confirmed from the ISM Services PMI Report for August 2026 as posted on PR Newswire Sept. 3. This is a private survey release, not a BLS or BEA print.
On Sept. 3, 2026, the Institute for Supply Management said the Services PMI registered 55.4 percent in August, up 1.3 points from July’s 54.1, the 26th consecutive month in expansion. Business Activity 61.7 (+2.6); New Orders 60.9 (+3.7); Employment 47.8 (second straight month of contraction, +0.4 from 47.4); Prices 72.6 (+2.3), which ISM said hit its highest level since August 2022. Chair Steve Miller cited tariffs and the Middle East conflict as the most-cited supply-chain issues. Next Services PMI (September data): Oct. 5, 2026, 10:00 a.m. ET.
PR Newswire, TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 3, 2026, 10:00 ET, sourced to the Institute for Supply Management: “The Services PMI® registered 55.4 percent, the 26th consecutive month in expansion territory.” The report was issued by Steve Miller, CPSM, CSCP, chair of ISM’s Services Business Survey Committee.
Miller, as quoted: “In August, the Services PMI® registered 55.4 percent, an increase of 1.3 percentage points compared to July's figure of 54.1 percent. The Business Activity Index remained in expansion territory in August, increasing 2.6 percentage points to 61.7 percent from July's reading of 59.1 percent. The New Orders Index registered 60.9 percent, 3.7 percentage points above July's figure of 57.2 percent. The Employment Index contracted for a second straight month with a reading of 47.8 percent, a 0.4-percentage point increase from the 47.4 percent recorded in July.”
On prices, the same release: the Prices Index “reading of 72.6 percent in August is 2.3 percentage points above July's figure of 70.3 percent” and “hit its highest level since August 2022 (72.6 percent).” Miller: “Tariffs and the Middle East conflict returned as the most cited issues impacting respondents' supply chains.”
The release says the next ISM Services PMI Report featuring September 2026 data will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, October 5, 2026. ISM is a private survey of supply executives, not a government statistical agency.
What is still unknown or disputed
- None material for the headline indexes.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Services PMI at 55.4%; August 2026 ISM Services PMI Report
Institute for Supply Management via PR Newswire · September 3, 2026
The Services PMI registered 55.4 percent, an increase of 1.3 percentage points compared to July's figure of 54.1 percent. Business Activity 61.7. New Orders 60.9. Employment 47.8. Prices 72.6. Next report featuring September 2026 data at 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, October 5, 2026.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/services-pmi-at-55-4-august-2026-ism-services-pmi-report-302868046.html