|

US: Manufacturing and Services PMIs reach new series highs in May

  • US Manufacturing PMI rose to a new series high in May.
  • US Dollar Index rose above 90.00 after the data.

The business activity in the US manufacturing sector continued to expand at a robust pace in May with the IHS Markit's Manufacturing PMI rising to a new series high of 61.5 from 60.5 in April. This reading came in better than the market expectation of 60.2.

Further details of the publication revealed that the Employment Index edged lower to 53.3, the lowest level since December, from 55.7 in April. On a negative note, "input costs rose in May at a pace not seen since July 2008," the IHS Markit noted.

Moreover, the ISM Services PMI also notched a new series high at 70.1, improving from 64.7 in April. Finally, the Composite PMI jumped to 68.1 from 63.5.

Commenting on the data, "the US economy saw a spectacular acceleration of growth in May, the rate of expansion of business activity soaring well above anything previously recorded in recent history as the economy continued to reopen from COVID19 restrictions," noted Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at the IHS Markit.

"The May survey also brings further concerns in relation to inflation, however, as the growth surge continued to result in ever-higher prices," Williams added. "Average selling prices for goods and services are both rising at unprecedented rates, which will feed through to higher consumer inflation in coming months."

Market reaction

The US Dollar Index gained traction after this report and was last seen gaining 0.3% on the day at 90.01.

Author

Eren Sengezer

As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.

More from Eren Sengezer
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD holds recovery gains near 1.3400 despite soft UK CPI data

GBP/USD clings to recovery gains near 1.3400 in European trading on Wednesday. The UK annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation cooled to 2.6% in June against the market forecast of 2.7%, failing to deter the British Pound's rebound from weekly troughs. However, the pair's further upside could be limited by ongoing Mideast tensions and sustained US Dollar demand as a haven.

EUR/USD gains ground above 1.1400 on hawkish ECB tone

The EUR/USD pair holds positive ground near 1.1410 during the early European trading hours, bolstered by a hawkish tone from the European Central Bank. However, the potential upside for the major pair might be limited amid escalating military tensions and recent retaliatory airstrikes between the US and Iran.

Gold ease from two-week top as energy-driven inflation fears bolster Fed hike bets

Gold retreats slightly from a two-week high touched earlier this Wednesday, albeit it retains an intraday bullish bias through the first half of the European session. Hopes that US-Iran diplomacy could ease energy prices and temper hawkish US Federal Reserve expectations undermine the US Dollar, which is seen supporting the commodity. In fact, top negotiators for Iran and the US signaled that they have not walked away from talks.

Cardano: Short-term recovery lacks retail support

Cardano price edges lower after the 50-day Exponential Moving Average at $1.770 capped two consecutive days of recovery seen earlier this week. ADA futures point to waning retail traction as Open Interest and trading volume decline amid elevated long liquidations. The technical outlook for ADA is bearish, as momentum remains subdued below a resistance trendline near $0.1782.

Chip stocks are more volatile than Oil

I continue to start the day by looking at these two charts: US crude & Kospi. The former is extending gains, trading above $86 per barrel for WTI and $92 per barrel for Brent, while the Kospi is up more than 4.5%, led higher by Korean chipmakers following a similar jump in VanEck's Semiconductor ETF yesterday.

US Dollar mid-year outlook: Exceptional currency, exceptional risks?
The US Dollar enters the second half of 2026 in a markedly different position from a year ago. The King currency has recovered, reflecting persistent US inflation, changing expectations for Fed policy, geopolitical tensions and renewed demand for defensive assets.