Manufacturing PMI? at 54%; May 2026 ISM? Manufacturing PMI? Report
BY PR Newswire | ECONOMIC | 10:00 AM EDTNew Orders Growing; Production Growing; Employment Contracting; Supplier Deliveries Slowing; Raw Materials Inventories Contracting; Customers' Inventories Too Low; Prices Increasing; Imports Growing; Exports Growing
TEMPE, Ariz., June 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Economic activity in the?manufacturing sector expanded in May for the fifth consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest?ISM? Manufacturing PMI? Report.
The report was issued today by Susan Spence, MBA, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management??(ISM?) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.
"The Manufacturing PMI??registered 54 percent in May, 1.3 percentage points higher than in April and its highest reading since May 2022 (55.9 percent). The overall economy continued in expansion for the 19th month in a row. (A Manufacturing PMI??above 47.5 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy.) The New Orders Index expanded for the fifth consecutive month after four straight readings in contraction, registering 56.8 percent, up 2.7 percentage points compared to April's figure of 54.1 percent. The May reading of the Production Index (54.3 percent) is 0.9 percentage point higher than April's reading of 53.4 percent. The Prices Index remained in expansion (or 'increasing' territory), registering 82.1 percent, a 2.5-percentage point decrease from April's reading of 84.6 percent. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 52.2 percent, up 0.8 percentage point compared to the 51.4 percent recorded in April. The Employment Index registered 48.6 percent, up 2.2 percentage points from April's figure of 46.4 percent," says Spence.
"The Supplier Deliveries Index indicated slowing performance for the sixth month in a row after one month in 'faster' territory. The reading of 60.6 percent repeated its April figure after the index increased in each of the previous five months. (Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM??PMI? Reports index that is inversed; a reading of above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries, which is typical as the economy improves and customer demand increases.)
"The Inventories Index registered 49.9 percent, up 0.9 percentage point compared to April's reading of 49 percent. The Customers' Inventories Index reading of 42.7 percent is 3.6 percentage points higher as compared to the 39.1 percent recorded in April.
"The New Export Orders Index returned to expansion territory with a reading of 50.6 percent, 2.7 percentage points higher than the 47.9 percent registered in April. The Imports Index registered 53 percent, 2.7 percentage points higher than April's reading of 50.3 percent."
Spence continues, "In May, U.S. manufacturing activity remained in expansion territory, growing at a faster pace compared to the month before. Of the five subindexes that make up the PMI?, the New Orders index indicated faster growth compared to the previous month, the Supplier Deliveries index stayed the same, the Production Index grew at a faster rate, and the Employment and Inventories indexes remained in contraction, though both improved.
"In May, 25 percent of the comments were positive and 69 percent negative, with a 1-to-2.7 ratio of positive to negative sentiment. Among comments, the Iran war was mentioned in 42 percent and tariffs in 18 percent; 57 percent of the panelists mentioned pricing volatility as an issue for their companies.
"Three of four demand indicators?(the New Orders, Backlog of Orders, and New Export Orders indexes) were in expansion. The Customers' Inventories Index remains in 'too low' territory, contracting at a slower rate. A 'too low' status for the Customers' Inventories Index is usually considered positive for future production.
"Regarding output, the Production Index is in expansion for the seventh month in a row, and the Employment Index increased by 2.2 percentage points but remained in contraction. Among panelists, 50 percent indicated that managing head counts remains the norm at their companies,?while 50 percent are hiring.
"Finally, inputs (defined as supplier deliveries, inventories, prices and imports) were mostly improved month over month. With the same reading as in April, the Supplier Deliveries Index stayed at its highest level since May 2022 (65.7 percent). The Inventories Index contracted at a slower rate, the Prices Index declined by 2.5 percentage points and the Imports Index grew at a faster rate.
"Looking at the manufacturing economy, only 2 percent of the sector's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted in May, compared to 19 percent in April, and the percentage of manufacturing GDP in strong contraction (defined as a composite PMI? of 45 percent or lower) was also 2 percent, the same as in April. The share of sector GDP with a PMI? at or below 45 percent is a good metric to gauge overall manufacturing weakness. All of the six largest manufacturing industries expanded in May, in the following order: Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Petroleum & Coal Products; Chemical Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. In May, all indexes headed in a direction that suggests sustained growth," says Spence.
The 16 manufacturing industries reporting growth in May ? listed in order ? are:?Printing & Related Support Activities; Textile Mills; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Paper Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Plastics & Rubber Products; Primary Metals; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Computer & Electronic Products; Furniture & Related Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Petroleum & Coal Products; Chemical Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. The only industry reporting contraction in May is Wood Products.
WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING
- "Impact of Iran conflict starting to directly and negatively impact cost of supply chain. Oil and related commodities are escalating in price." [Transportation Equipment]
- "The Middle East conflict is triggering shipment delays and uncertainties. Elevated gas prices and inflation will surely impact our purchases. However, over the last quarter, we've seen increased demand that was unexpected." [Machinery]
- "As with all companies, we have felt the effects of fuel-related inflation and general market uncertainty due to overall economic variability and geopolitical events that have impacted such markets as construction, automotive and agriculture, as well as the general industrial sector." [Chemical Products]
- "Continuing trends of 15-percent sales increase in April, cost increases on a majority of raw materials, and fuel charges on many inbound and outbound deliveries. We remain cautiously optimistic that if global economic factors stabilize and the Iran conflict ends, we can continue with increased sales and maintain acceptable margins." [Chemical Products]
- "Cost of diesel is having huge impacts on our profitability. Confusion abounds around tariff refunds. We purchase many imported goods but in most cases are not the importer of record, so it is currently unclear to what we may be entitled." [Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products]
- "Prices continue to rise for many products ? some due to increase in data center creation for electronic components, others as a result of the Iran war and reductions in availability of oil/petroleum." [Computer & Electronic Products]
- "Supply constraints continue to propagate and are a key headwind to supporting increased aerospace and defense demand. Semiconductors, critical minerals and certain types of raw materials are illustrative examples of sales plans at risk. Corporate risk mitigation actions are underway to secure supply in the midst of constraints." [Transportation Equipment]
- "The current atmosphere is one of extreme uncertainty and concern for the future in terms of both price stability and longer-term supply continuity related to the Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz closure. We have a lot of negotiations in process related to requested price increases, some related to oil prices and some still fallout from the 2025 tariff/geopolitical climate." [Miscellaneous Manufacturing]
- "Continued dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) volatility, increased gas prices and tariffs are causing long lead constraints and price hikes that customers are not willing to bear. Panic is starting within our industry." [Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components]
- "Business appears to be weakening ? uncertainty surrounding the Iran war, rising energy prices and customers unwilling to commit to expenditures beyond a very short term." [Fabricated Metal Products]
| MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE May 2026 | |||||||
Index | Series Index May | Series Index Apr | Percentage Point Change | Direction | Rate of Change | Trend* (Months) | |
Manufacturing PMI? | 54.0 | 52.7 | +1.3 | Growing | Faster | 5 | |
New Orders | 56.8 | 54.1 | +2.7 | Growing | Faster | 5 | |
Production | 54.3 | 53.4 | +0.9 | Growing | Faster | 7 | |
Employment | 48.6 | 46.4 | +2.2 | Contracting | Slower | 32 | |
Supplier Deliveries | 60.6 | 60.6 | 0.0 | Slowing | Same | 6 | |
Inventories | 49.9 | 49.0 | +0.9 | Contracting | Slower | 13 | |
Customers' Inventories | 42.7 | 39.1 | +3.6 | Too Low | Slower | 20 | |
Prices | 82.1 | 84.6 | -2.5 | Increasing | Slower | 20 | |
Backlog of Orders | 52.2 | 51.4 | +0.8 | Growing | Faster | 5 | |
New Export Orders | 50.6 | 47.9 | +2.7 | Growing | From Contracting | 1 | |
Imports | 53.0 | 50.3 | +2.7 | Growing | Faster | 4 | |
OVERALL ECONOMY | Growing | Faster | 19 | ||||
Manufacturing Sector | Growing | Faster | 5 | ||||
ISM??Manufacturing PMI? Report data is seasonally adjusted for the New Orders, Production, Employment and Inventories indexes.
*Number of months moving in current direction.
COMMODITIES REPORTED UP/DOWN IN PRICE AND IN SHORT SUPPLY
Commodities Up in Price
Acrylic Products (2); Aluminum (30); Aluminum Products (2); Brass; Carbides; Chemical Products (3); Cooking Fats and Oils (3); Copper (11); Copper Based Products (6); Corn (3); Corrugated Products (2); Diesel Fuel (3); Electronic Components (5); Ethylene; Freight (3); Fuel (3); Gasoline; Maintenance, Repair, and Operating (MRO) Supplies; Memory Components (3); Metal Products (2); Methanol (3); Ocean Freight; Oil (2); Oil Based Products (2); Packaging Materials (2); Paper Products (2); Petroleum Based Products (2); Plastic Based Products (2); Plastics (3); Polyethylene Resins (2); Polypropylene; Resins (4); Soybean Products (3); Steel (7); Steel ? Carbon (2); Steel ? Hot Rolled (5); Steel ? Stainless (4); Steel Products (6); Sulfur Products (2); Transportation Costs (2); Trucking Services; Tungsten Products (4); and Wire and Cable (2).
Commodities Down in Price
None.
Commodities in Short Supply
Aluminum (2); Electrical Components (11); Electronic Components (15); Memory (5); Propylene Glycol (2); Resins; Semiconductors (3); Steel Products; and Tungsten Products.
Note: The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is indicated after each item.
MAY 2026 MANUFACTURING INDEX SUMMARIES
Manufacturing PMI?
The U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in May for the fifth straight month following a 10-month period of contraction, registering 54 percent, an increase of 1.3 percentage points as compared to April. This is the highest PMI? reading since it registered 55.9 percent in May 2022. Of the five subindexes that directly factor into the Manufacturing PMI?, three (New Orders, Production and Supplier Deliveries) were in expansion territory, the same as in April. The Employment and Inventories indexes both stayed in contraction but improved compared to April. All of the six largest manufacturing industries expanded in May. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing sector is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.
A Manufacturing PMI??above 47.5 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the May Manufacturing PMI? indicates the overall economy grew for the 19th straight month. "The past relationship between the Manufacturing PMI? and the overall economy indicates that the May reading (54 percent) corresponds to a 2.2-percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) on an annualized basis," says Spence.
THE LAST 12 MONTHS
Month | Manufacturing | Month | Manufacturing |
May 2026 | 54.0 | Nov 2025 | 48.0 |
Apr 2026 | 52.7 | Oct 2025 | 48.8 |
Mar 2026 | 52.7 | Sep 2025 | 48.9 |
Feb 2026 | 52.4 | Aug 2025 | 48.9 |
Jan 2026 | 52.6 | Jul 2025 | 48.4 |
Dec 2025 | 47.9 | Jun 2025 | 49.0 |
Average for 12 months ? 50.4 High ? 54.0 Low ? 47.9 | |||
New Orders
ISM?'s New Orders Index expanded in May with a reading of 56.8 percent, an increase of 2.7 percentage points compared to April's reading of 54.1 percent.?"Of the six largest manufacturing industries, four (Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; and Machinery) reported increased new orders. Demand sentiment was positive in May, and for a second straight month, there was a 1.6-to-1 ratio of positive to negative comments," says Spence. A New Orders Index above 51.9 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Census Bureau's series on manufacturing orders (in constant 2000 dollars).
The 14 manufacturing industries that reported growth in new orders in May, in order, are: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Paper Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Textile Mills; Primary Metals; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Computer & Electronic Products; Furniture & Related Products; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; Plastics & Rubber Products; Machinery; and Fabricated Metal Products. The only industry reporting a decline in new orders in May is Wood Products.
New Orders | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Net | Index |
May 2026 | 30.9 | 55.2 | 13.9 | +17.0 | 56.8 |
Apr 2026 | 31.6 | 53.2 | 15.2 | +16.4 | 54.1 |
Mar 2026 | 29.1 | 56.3 | 14.6 | +14.5 | 53.5 |
Feb 2026 | 30.3 | 56.9 | 12.8 | +17.5 | 55.8 |
Production
The Production Index expanded in May for the seventh month in a row, registering 54.3 percent, a 0.9-percentage point increase compared to April's reading of 53.4 percent. "Of the six largest manufacturing industries, five (Transportation Equipment; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products) reported increased production. Panelists had a 1.75-to-1 ratio of positive to negative comments regarding output," says Spence. An index above 52 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Federal Reserve Board's Industrial Production figures.
The 14 industries reporting growth in production during the month of May ? listed in order ? are:?Printing & Related Support Activities; Textile Mills; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Plastics & Rubber Products; Paper Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products. The only industry reporting a decrease in production in May is Wood Products.
Production | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Net | Index |
May 2026 | 26.7 | 57.8 | 15.5 | +11.2 | 54.3 |
Apr 2026 | 28.3 | 58.7 | 13.0 | +15.3 | 53.4 |
Mar 2026 | 24.5 | 62.8 | 12.7 | +11.8 | 55.1 |
Feb 2026 | 25.2 | 58.8 | 16.0 | +9.2 | 53.5 |
Employment
ISM?'s Employment Index registered 48.6 percent?in May, 2.2 percentage points higher than April's reading of 46.4 percent. "The index posted its 32nd consecutive month of contraction after expanding in September 2023. Since January 2023, the Employment Index has contracted in 40 of 41 months. Of the six big manufacturing industries, three (Computer & Electronic Products; Transportation Equipment; and Machinery) reported higher levels of employment in May. The panelist comment ratio of hiring to managing/reducing head counts was 1 to 1 in May," says Spence. An Employment Index above 50.3 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on manufacturing employment.
Of the 18 manufacturing industries, nine reported employment growth in May, in the following order:?Printing & Related Support Activities; Wood Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Furniture & Related Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Transportation Equipment; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Machinery. The five industries reporting a decrease in employment in May are: Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Chemical Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Textile Mills.
Employment | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Net | Index |
May 2026 | 17.0 | 67.6 | 15.4 | +1.6 | 48.6 |
Apr 2026 | 17.5 | 62.3 | 20.2 | -2.7 | 46.4 |
Mar 2026 | 14.2 | 70.8 | 15.0 | -0.8 | 48.7 |
Feb 2026 | 18.8 | 60.8 | 20.4 | -1.6 | 48.8 |
Supplier Deliveries?
Delivery performance of suppliers to manufacturing organizations was slower in May for the sixth consecutive month after one month of faster deliveries. "The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 60.6 percent, the same as in April and a repeat of its highest reading since May 2022 (65.7 percent). Of the six big industries, five (Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Chemical Products; Machinery; and Transportation Equipment) reported slower supplier deliveries," says Spence. A reading below 50 percent indicates faster deliveries, while a reading above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries.
The 14 manufacturing industries reporting slower supplier deliveries in May, in order, are: Computer & Electronic Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Textile Mills; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Chemical Products; Paper Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Furniture & Related Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Primary Metals; and Transportation Equipment. No industry reported faster deliveries in May.
Supplier Deliveries | %Slower | %Same | %Faster | Net | Index |
May 2026 | 24.6 | 71.9 | 3.5 | +21.1 | 60.6 |
Apr 2026 | 22.6 | 75.9 | 1.5 | +21.1 | 60.6 |
Mar 2026 | 19.5 | 78.8 | 1.7 | +17.8 | 58.9 |
Feb 2026 | 14.0 | 82.2 | 3.8 | +10.2 | 55.1 |
Inventories
The Inventories Index registered 49.9 percent?in May, up 0.9 percentage point compared to the reading of 49 percent in April. "Of the six big industries, five (Petroleum & Coal Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products) expanded inventories in May," says Spence. An Inventories Index greater than 44.5 percent, over time, is generally consistent with expansion in the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) figures on overall manufacturing inventories (in chained 2000 dollars).
Of 18 manufacturing industries, the nine reporting higher inventories in May ? in the following order ? are: Textile Mills; Petroleum & Coal Products; Paper Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products. The six industries reporting lower inventories in May ? listed in order ? are: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Wood Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and Primary Metals.
Inventories | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Net | Index |
May 2026 | 18.1 | 65.4 | 16.5 | +1.6 | 49.9 |
Apr 2026 | 14.5 | 68.3 | 17.2 | -2.7 | 49.0 |
Mar 2026 | 16.7 | 64.3 | 19.0 | -2.3 | 47.1 |
Feb 2026 | 14.2 | 71.8 | 14.0 | +0.2 | 48.8 |
Customers' Inventories?
ISM?'s Customers' Inventories Index remained in "too low" territory in May, with reading of 42.7 percent, an increase of 3.6 percentage points compared to the 39.1 percent reported in April. (For more information about the Customers' Inventories Index, see the "Data and Method of Presentation" section below.)
The two industries that reported that customers' inventories were too high in May are: Textile Mills; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The 10 industries reporting customers' inventories as too low?in May, in order, are: Furniture & Related Products; Machinery; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Primary Metals; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; and Wood Products. Six industries reported no change in customers' inventories in May compared to April.
Customers' | % Reporting | %Too High | %About Right | %Too Low | Net | Index |
May 2026 | 73 | 7.0 | 71.3 | 21.7 | -14.7 | 42.7 |
Apr 2026 | 73 | 7.6 | 62.9 | 29.5 | -21.9 | 39.1 |
Mar 2026 | 74 | 6.9 | 66.3 | 26.8 | -19.9 | 40.1 |
Feb 2026 | 76 | 5.7 | 66.1 | 28.2 | -22.5 | 38.8 |
Prices?
The ISM? Prices Index registered 82.1 percent in May, a decrease of 2.5 percentage points compared to its April reading of 84.6 percent, indicating raw materials prices increased for the 20th straight month. Five of the six largest manufacturing industries ? Chemical Products; Machinery; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Transportation Equipment ? reported price increases in May. "The Prices Index reading is still being driven by (1) increases in steel and aluminum prices that impact the entire value chain, (2) tariffs applied to many imported goods and (3) increases in petroleum-based products as a result of the Middle East conflict. Higher prices were reported by 66.3 percent of respondents in May, down 4 percentage points from April's 70.3 percent," says Spence. A Prices Index above 52.8 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials.
In May, the 16 industries that reported paying increased prices for raw materials, in order, are: Furniture & Related Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Paper Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Textile Mills; Fabricated Metal Products; Chemical Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Primary Metals; Transportation Equipment; and Wood Products. No industries reported paying decreased prices for raw materials in May.
Prices | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Net | Index |
May 2026 | 66.3 | 31.5 | 2.2 | +64.1 | 82.1 |
Apr 2026 | 70.3 | 28.5 | 1.2 | +69.1 | 84.6 |
Mar 2026 | 59.4 | 37.8 | 2.8 | +56.6 | 78.3 |
Feb 2026 | 45.4 | 50.2 | 4.4 | +41.0 | 70.5 |
Backlog of Orders??
ISM?'s Backlog of Orders Index registered 52.2 percent in May, an increase of 0.8 percentage point compared to the April reading of 51.4 percent. Of the six largest manufacturing industries, three (Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; and Transportation Equipment) reported expansion in order backlogs in May.
The nine industries reporting higher backlogs in May ? listed in order ? are: Furniture & Related Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Textile Mills; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Computer & Electronic Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Machinery; Fabricated Metal Products; and Transportation Equipment. The three industries reporting lower backlogs in May are: Wood Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products. Six industries reported no change in backlog of orders in May as compared to April.
Backlog of Orders | % Reporting | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Net | Index |
May 2026 | 87 | 20.4 | 63.5 | 16.1 | +4.3 | 52.2 |
Apr 2026 | 90 | 22.1 | 58.6 | 19.3 | +2.8 | 51.4 |
Mar 2026 | 90 | 24.6 | 59.6 | 15.8 | +8.8 | 54.4 |
Feb 2026 | 90 | 26.8 | 59.5 | 13.7 | +13.1 | 56.6 |
New Export Orders?
ISM?'s New Export Orders Index registered 50.6 percent, up 2.7 percentage points from April's reading of 47.9 percent, marking a return to expansion territory. "For every positive comment on exports, there were two negative comments," says Spence.
Of the 18 manufacturing industries, the five that reported growth in new export orders in May are: Primary Metals; Chemical Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Computer & Electronic Products; and Transportation Equipment. The eight industries that reported a decrease in new export orders in May ? in the following order ? are: Wood Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Textile Mills; Plastics & Rubber Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Machinery.
New Export Orders | % Reporting | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Net | Index |
May 2026 | 74 | 12.8 | 75.6 | 11.6 | +1.2 | 50.6 |
Apr 2026 | 75 | 10.4 | 75.0 | 14.6 | -4.2 | 47.9 |
Mar 2026 | 74 | 12.1 | 75.5 | 12.4 | -0.3 | 49.9 |
Feb 2026 | 74 | 9.2 | 82.2 | 8.6 | +0.6 | 50.3 |
Imports?
ISM?'s Imports Index increased in May to 53 percent, a 2.7-percentage point increase compared to April's reading of 50.3 percent.
The eight industries reporting higher imports in May ? in the following order ? are: Printing & Related Support Activities; Wood Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment; Machinery; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. The three industries that reported lower volumes in May are: Textile Mills; Paper Products; and Chemical Products. Seven industries reported no change in imports in May compared to April.
Imports | % Reporting | %Higher | %Same | %Lower | Net | Index |
May 2026 | 85 | 15.4 | 75.2 | 9.4 | +6.0 | 53.0 |
Apr 2026 | 85 | 10.6 | 79.3 | 10.1 | +0.5 | 50.3 |
Mar 2026 | 87 | 15.1 | 75.0 | 9.9 | +5.2 | 52.6 |
Feb 2026 | 87 | 15.8 | 78.1 | 6.1 | +9.7 | 54.9 |
?The Supplier Deliveries, Customers' Inventories, Prices, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, and Imports indexes do not meet the accepted criteria for seasonal adjustments.
Buying Policy
The average commitment lead time for Capital Expenditures in May was 171 days, a decrease of 3 days compared to April. The average lead time in May for Production Materials was 81 days, the same as April. The average lead time for Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies was 48 days, an increase of two days compared to April.
Percent Reporting | |||||||||||
Capital Expenditures | Hand-to- Mouth | 30 Days | 60 Days | 90 Days | 6 Months | 1 Year+ | Average Days | ||||
May 2026 | 17 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 34 | 26 | 171 | ||||
Apr 2026 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 35 | 26 | 174 | ||||
Mar 2026 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 32 | 26 | 170 | ||||
Feb 2026 | 18 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 27 | 31 | 179 | ||||
Percent Reporting | |||||||
Production Materials | Hand-to- Mouth | 30 Days | 60 Days | 90 Days | 6 Months | 1 Year+ | Average Days |
May 2026 | 8 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 11 | 4 | 81 |
Apr 2026 | 7 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 10 | 4 | 81 |
Mar 2026 | 8 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 7 | 6 | 82 |
Feb 2026 | 9 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 10 | 4 | 79 |
Percent Reporting | |||||||
MRO Supplies | Hand-to- Mouth | 30 Days | 60 Days | 90 Days | 6 Months | 1 Year+ | Average Days |
May 2026 | 27 | 39 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 48 |
Apr 2026 | 27 | 36 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 46 |
Mar 2026 | 29 | 38 | 15 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 44 |
Feb 2026 | 29 | 37 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 46 |
About This Report
DO NOT CONFUSE THIS NATIONAL REPORT with the various regional purchasing reports released across the country. The national report's information reflects the entire U.S., while the regional reports contain primarily regional data from their local vicinities. Also, the information in the regional reports is not used in calculating the results of the national report. The information compiled in this report is for the month of May 2026.
The data presented herein is obtained from a survey of manufacturing supply executives based on information they have collected within their respective organizations. ISM? makes no representation, other than that stated within this release, regarding the individual company data collection procedures. The data should be compared to all other economic data sources when used in decision-making.
Data and Method of Presentation
The ISM? Manufacturing PMI? Report is based on data compiled from purchasing and supply executives nationwide. The composition of the Manufacturing Business Survey Panel is stratified according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and each of the following NAICS-based industries' contribution to gross domestic product (GDP): Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood Products; Paper Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Petroleum & Coal Products; Chemical Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; Furniture & Related Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing (products such as medical equipment and supplies, jewelry, sporting goods, toys and office supplies). The data are weighted based on each industry's contribution to GDP. According to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) estimates (the average of the fourth quarter 2024 GDP estimate and the GDP estimates for first, second, and third quarter 2025, as released on January 22, 2026), the six largest manufacturing industries are: Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; and Petroleum & Coal Products.
Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month. For nine indicators (New Orders, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, Imports, Production, Supplier Deliveries, Inventories, Employment, and Prices), this report shows the percentage reporting each response, the net difference between the number of responses in the positive economic direction (higher, better and slower for Supplier Deliveries) and the negative economic direction (lower, worse and faster for Supplier Deliveries), and the diffusion index. For Customers' Inventories, respondents report their assessment of their customers' stock levels of respondent companies' products this month (rather than last month): too high, about right, and too low. Responses are raw data and are never changed. The diffusion index includes the percent of positive responses plus one-half of those responding the same (considered positive).
The resulting single index number for those meeting the criteria for seasonal adjustments (Manufacturing PMI?, New Orders, Production, Employment and Inventories) is then seasonally adjusted to allow for the effects of repetitive intra-year variations resulting primarily from normal differences in weather conditions, various institutional arrangements, and differences attributable to non-moveable holidays. All seasonal adjustment factors are subject annually to relatively minor changes when conditions warrant them. The Manufacturing PMI? is a composite index based on the diffusion indexes of five of the indexes with equal weights: New Orders (seasonally adjusted), Production (seasonally adjusted), Employment (seasonally adjusted), Supplier Deliveries, and Inventories (seasonally adjusted).
Diffusion indexes have the properties of leading indicators and are convenient summary measures showing the prevailing direction of change and the scope of change. A Manufacturing PMI? reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally declining. A Manufacturing PMI? above 47.5 percent, over a period of time, indicates that the overall economy, or gross domestic product (GDP), is generally expanding; below 47.5 percent, it is generally declining. The distance from 50 percent or 47.5 percent is indicative of the extent of the expansion or decline. With some of the indicators within this report, ISM? has indicated the departure point between expansion and decline of comparable government series, as determined by regression analysis. For the Customers' Inventories Index, numerically, a reading: above 50 percent is "too high," equal to 50 percent is "about right," and below 50 percent is "too low." However, in practice and in the context of other data, customers' inventories may be considered to be "about right" if the diffusion index is between 52 percent (the high side of about right) and 48 percent (the low side of about right).
The ISM? Manufacturing PMI? Report survey is sent out to Manufacturing Business Survey Panel respondents the first part of each month. Respondents are asked to report on information for the current month for U.S. operations only. ISM? receives survey responses throughout most of any given month, with the majority of respondents generally waiting until late in the month to submit responses to give the most accurate picture of current business activity. ISM? then compiles the report for release on the first business day of the following month.
The industries reporting growth, as indicated in the ISM? Manufacturing PMI? Report, are listed in the order of most growth to least growth. For the industries reporting contraction or decreases, those are listed in the order of the highest level of contraction/decrease to the least level of contraction/decrease.
Responses to Buying Policy reflect the percent reporting the current month's lead time, the approximate weighted number of days ahead for which commitments are made for Capital Expenditures; Production Materials; and Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies, expressed as hand-to-mouth (five days), 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, six months (180 days), a year or more (360 days), and the weighted average number of days. These responses are raw data, never revised, and not seasonally adjusted.
ISM PMI? Content
The Institute for Supply Management? ("ISM?") PMI? Reports, formerly Report On Business?, (Manufacturing and Services reports) ("ISM PMI?") contain information, text, files, images, video, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, applications, and any other materials or content (collectively, "Content") of ISM ("ISM PMI? Content"). ISM PMI? Content is protected by copyright, trademark, trade secret, and other laws, and as between you and ISM, ISM owns and retains all rights in the ISM PMI? Content. ISM hereby grants you a limited, revocable, nonsublicensable license to access and display on your individual device the ISM PMI? Content (excluding any software code) solely for your personal, non-commercial use. The ISM PMI? Content shall also contain Content of users and other ISM licensors. Except as provided herein or as explicitly allowed in writing by ISM, you shall not copy, download, stream, capture, reproduce, duplicate, archive, upload, modify, translate, publish, broadcast, transmit, retransmit, distribute, perform, display, sell, or otherwise use any ISM PMI? Content.
Except as explicitly and expressly permitted by ISM, you are strictly prohibited from creating works or materials (including but not limited to tables, charts, data streams, time-series variables, fonts, icons, link buttons, wallpaper, desktop themes, online postcards, montages, mashups and similar videos, greeting cards, and unlicensed merchandise) that derive from or are based on the ISM PMI? Content. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the derivative works or materials are sold, bartered, or given away. You shall not either directly or through the use of any device, software, internet site, web-based service, or other means remove, alter, bypass, avoid, interfere with, or circumvent any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices marked on the Content or any digital rights management mechanism, device, or other content protection or access control measure associated with the Content including geo-filtering mechanisms. Without prior written authorization from ISM, you shall not build a business utilizing the Content, whether or not for profit.
You shall not create, recreate, distribute, incorporate in other work, or advertise an index of any portion of the Content unless you receive prior written authorization from ISM. Requests for permission to reproduce or distribute ISM PMI? Content can be made by contacting in writing at: ISM Research, Institute for Supply Management, 350 W. Washington St., Suite 301, Tempe, AZ 85288, or by emailing kcahill@ismworld.org. Subject: Content Request.
ISM shall not have any liability, duty, or obligation for or relating to the ISM PMI? Content or other information contained herein, any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or delays in providing any ISM PMI? Content or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. In no event shall ISM be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the use of the ISM PMI?. Report On Business?, PMI?, Manufacturing PMI? and Services PMI? are registered trademarks of Institute for Supply Management?. Institute for Supply Management? and ISM? are registered trademarks of Institute for Supply Management, Inc.
About Institute for Supply Management? (ISM?)
Institute for Supply Management? (ISM?) is the first and leading not-for-profit professional supply management organization worldwide. Its community of more than 50,000 in more than 100 countries around the world manage about US$1 trillion in corporate and government supply chain procurement annually. Founded in 1915 by practitioners, ISM is committed to advancing the strategy and practice of integrated, end-to-end supply chain management through leading edge data-driven resources, community, and education to empower individuals, create organizational value and to drive competitive advantage. ISM's vision is to foster a prosperous, sustainable world. ISM empowers and leads the profession through the ISM? PMI? Reports (formerly Report On Business?), its highly regarded certification and training programs, corporate services, events and assessments. The ISM? PMI? Reports ? Manufacturing and Services ? are two of the most reliable economic indicators available, providing guidance to supply management professionals, economists, analysts, and government and business leaders. For more information, please visit: www.ismworld.org.
The full text version of the ISM? Manufacturing PMI? Report is posted on ISM?'s website at www.ismrob.org on the first business day* of every month after 10:00 a.m. ET. The one exception is in January when the report is released on the second business day of the month.
The next ISM? Manufacturing PMI? Report featuring June 2026 data will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
*Unless the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
Contact:? ? ? ? ? ? | Kristina Cahill |
PMI? Reports Analyst | |
ISM?, PMI?/Research Manager | |
Tempe, Arizona | |
+1 480.455.5910 | |
Email: kcahill@ismworld.org |

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SOURCE Institute for Supply Management
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