ISM® Services Index Increases to 56.0% in October

(Posted with permission). The ISM® Services index was at 56.0%, up from 54.9% last month. The employment index increased to 53.0%, from 48.1%. Note: Above 50 indicates expansion, below 50 in contraction.

From the Institute for Supply Management: Services PMI® at 56% October 2024 Services ISM® Report On Business®

Economic activity in the services sector expanded for the fourth consecutive month in October, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Services ISM® Report On Business®. The Services PMI® registered 56 percent, which is the highest reading since July 2022 and indicates sector expansion for the 50th time in 53 months.

The report was issued today by Steve Miller, CPSM, CSCP, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Services Business Survey Committee: “In October, the Services PMI® registered 56 percent, 1.1 percentage points higher than September’s figure of 54.9 percent. The reading in October marked the eighth time the composite index has been in expansion territory this year. The Business Activity Index registered 57.2 percent in October, 2.7 percentage points lower than the 59.9 percent recorded in September, indicating a fourth month of expansion after a contraction in June. The New Orders Index decreased to 57.4 percent in October, 2 percentage points lower than September’s figure of 59.4 percent. The Employment Index landed in expansion territory for its third time in four months; the reading of 53 percent is a 4.9-percentage point increase compared to the 48.1 percent recorded in September.
emphasis added

The PMI was well above expectations.