ISM: U.S. Manufacturing Activity Reaches Lowest Level in 2025

January 6, 2026--Written by Danny Levin, Deputy Editor for IIR News (Sugar Land, Texas)--The Institute of Supply Management's (ISM) Purchasing Managers Index, a leading indicator for the level of economic activity in U.S. manufacturing, reached its lowest figure for 2025 (and a 14-month low) as manufacturers continue to face challenges related to tariffs and other economic uncertainty.