- Prelim was 52.0
- Prior was 53.0
- Whilst firms sought to pass on higher supplier costs to clients, competitive pressures and signs of faltering demand meant output charge inflation softened to an eight- month low
- Job losses recorded amid uncertain outlook
Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence
“US manufacturing production rose for a fourth successive month in September, but the upturn lost momentum as companies reported a drop in order book growth alongside a buildup of unsold finished goods inventories.
“Despite a slowing in demand growth, many factories produced more goods, using up raw materials that had been stockpiled ahead of tariff implementation. This poses a downside risk to future production in the absence of a pickup in demand, though also hints at some alleviation of price pressures: there is already evidence of companies offering excess stock to customers at reduced rates.
“A growing uncertainty, however, relates to supply chains, with September seeing an increase in tariff- related vendor delays, which threaten to curb production and push up prices if these difficulties persist or intensify.”