ISM US February Services Index Posts Larger-Than-Expected Rise

10:11 AM EST, 03/04/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The Institute for Supply Management's US services index rose to a reading of 56.1 in February from 53.8 in January, compared with expectations for a decrease to a reading of 53.5 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

The ISM's reading follows mixed readings in other services readings already released for the month.

There were increase in the readings for production, new orders, employment, inventories and order backlogs but declines in supplier deliveries and prices.

The monthly national services reading from the Institute for Supply Management is reported as a headline index, with readings above 50 indicating expansion and those below 50 indicating contraction. Component indexes measure new orders, production, employment, and prices.

An increase in the index further above 50 is considered a sign of a strong US services sector and would be a positive for service-sector stocks. Rising prices would normally be a negative for both stocks and bonds.

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