According to BlockBeats, the U.S. service sector experienced its first contraction in nearly a year in May, with rising input prices indicating a potential period of slow economic growth and high inflation.
The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported on Wednesday that the U.S. non-manufacturing PMI fell to 49.9, dropping below the 50 threshold for the first time since June 2024. The new orders index decreased from 52.3 in April to 46.4, possibly due to the diminishing boost from tariff-related advantages.
Service sector clients have expressed concerns that inventories are higher than demand, which is not a positive sign for short-term economic activity. Supplier delivery performance continues to worsen, with extended factory delivery times suggesting supply chain constraints that could drive inflation higher due to shortages. Businesses are also attempting to pass on tariff costs to consumers. The service input price index surged from 65.1 in April to 68.7, reaching its highest level since November 2022, reinforcing this trend. Most economists anticipate that the impact of tariffs on inflation and employment may become evident in the so-called hard economic data over the summer.