ISM Prices Jump to 77.9 as Factory Orders Build

ISM’s September manufacturing report, released October 1, put the Prices Index at 77.9, up 6.8 points from August, while new orders and backlogs strengthened. The split matters: factories are seeing firmer demand, but buyers are also reporting a faster spread of input-cost increases, a combination that raises the odds that cost pressure reaches purchase orders before it reaches finished-goods shelves.

Key Takeaways ISM’s September 2026 Prices Index rose to 77.9 from 71.1 in August, a 6.8-point monthly increase. September new orders reached 55.3 and backlogs 56.4, both above the 50-point expansion line. September factory inventories slipped to 48.6, while customer inventories were 41.6, a low-…