Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstalliTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
There was no single September 2026 PMI result, and the phrase “slowing contraction” does not fit all the major releases reviewed. U.S. manufacturing and services were still expanding, although their headline indexes eased from August; Türkiye’s manufacturing index fell further below 50. Canada’s Ivey PMI also declined, but it measures purchasing activity and should not be treated as interchangeable with the others.
What did September 2026 PMI show?
PMI results depend on the country, publisher and sector. The U.S. Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported continued expansion in both manufacturing and services, at a slightly slower pace on each headline measure. Türkiye’s manufacturing PMI showed a modestly deeper contraction. Canada’s seasonally adjusted Ivey PMI fell from August, but its publisher describes the index in terms of whether purchases were greater or lower than in the prior month.
| Release | September | August | What the change indicates |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. ISM Manufacturing PMI | 54.5 | 54.6 | Expansion continued, with the headline index marginally lower. ISM September manufacturing report |
| U.S. ISM Services PMI | 54.9 | 55.4 | Services continued to grow, but the headline index eased. ISM September services report |
| Türkiye Manufacturing PMI | 47.9 | 48.1 | The index moved further below 50, indicating a deeper contraction. Istanbul Chamber of Industry release |
| Canada seasonally adjusted Ivey PMI | 58.2 | 64.3 | The index declined; Ivey frames its measure around whether purchases rose or fell from the previous month. Ivey PMI |
Why “slowing contraction” is not an accurate overall summary
A PMI headline is usually read against 50: above 50 generally signals expansion and below 50 contraction, but interpretation belongs to the specific publisher and index. On that basis, the U.S. ISM manufacturing reading of 54.5 remained in expansion territory, as did services at 54.9. Both were lower than in August, so their growth measures eased; neither showed contraction.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Türkiye’s manufacturing reading was below 50 in both months and fell from 48.1 to 47.9. The Istanbul Chamber of Industry described ongoing moderate deterioration, with output and new orders declining. That is a worsening contraction, not a slowing one.
#1 Best Overall
Canada’s Ivey index moved down from 64.3 to 58.2. Its own description focuses on whether purchases were greater or lower than in the prior month, so the fall is not a direct substitute for an ISM or Türkiye manufacturing-sector conclusion.
What changed inside U.S. manufacturing?
The headline manufacturing index barely moved, but its components were mixed. ISM’s September report, issued by Susan Spence, MBA, Chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee, said: “The Manufacturing PMI® registered 54.5 percent in September, 0.1 percentage point below the August figure of 54.6 percent.”
Rank #2
| ISM manufacturing component | September 2026 | August 2026 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orders Index | 55.3 | 53.7 | Rose |
| Employment Index | 52.7 | 51.2 | Rose |
| Production Index | 56.7 | 58.3 | Fell |
| Inventories Index | 48.6 | 50.6 | Fell below 50 |
| Prices Index | 77.9 | 71.1 | Rose |
New orders and employment strengthened, while production eased. Inventories moved below 50, and the prices index rose notably. These components describe different aspects of the survey; they should not be collapsed into a claim that all manufacturing activity improved or deteriorated together.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →What changed in U.S. services?
The September ISM Services PMI was 54.9, down from 55.4 in August. ISM characterized the sector as growing more slowly, not contracting. The report also noted that the September reading was 0.8 percentage point above its 12-month moving average of 54.1. Read ISM’s services report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read a PMI without mixing up the signals
- Check the publisher and geography. “PMI” is not one universal global result. These September figures cover U.S. ISM surveys, Türkiye manufacturing and Canada’s Ivey index.
- Check the sector and index definition. Manufacturing, services and purchasing indexes do not measure identical activity.
- Read both the level and the monthly change. A fall from August can mean slower expansion when the index remains above 50, or a deeper contraction when it is already below 50.
- Look at components where available. New orders, output, employment, inventories and prices can move in different directions, as they did in the U.S. manufacturing report.
ISM’s manufacturing report says a reading above 50 generally indicates expansion in manufacturing and below 50 contraction. It separately notes that a Manufacturing PMI above 47.5 over time generally indicates expansion of the overall economy. That longer-term economy threshold is not the same as the 50-point threshold used to describe manufacturing-sector expansion or contraction.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
