US composite PMI revised to eight-month low

(Sharecast News) - US private activity growth in December was revised down to its lowest rate in eight months, according to S&P Global, with both the manufacturing and services sectors slowing over the month. The final estimate of the S&P Global US composite purchasing managers' index came in at 52.7 last month, down from the initial reading of 53.0 and the 54.2 mark registered in November.

This was the lowest rate of growth - indicated by any reading above 50 - since April.

The services PMI was revised to 52.5 from 52.9, well below the 54.1 recorded in November, also marking an eight-month low.

New business inflows within services rose at their weakest level in over a year and a half, while confidence in the outlook weakened. Employment levels also fell for the first time since February 2025.

"We also enter 2026 with future output expectations running much lower than seen at the start of 2025, fuelling concerns that December's slowdown and job market malaise could spill over into the new year," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The previously published manufacturing PMI also weakened to 51.8 in December, down from 52.2 the previous month, with new orders falling for the first time in a year.