The world's largest economy, the United States, is experiencing clear signs of a slowdown, particularly in its industrial sector. Recent data from a survey by S&P Global reveals a concerning deceleration in U.S. manufacturing activity for August compared to the previous month. The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for this sector dropped to 47.9, down from July's 49.6. Economists had anticipated a slight decrease to 48.1, but the initial estimate had been 48.0. Typically, a PMI above 50 indicates economic expansion, while a figure below that threshold signals contraction.
Chief Economist Chris Williamson highlighted that this ongoing decline in the PMI suggests that the manufacturing sector may exert a growing drag on the U.S. economy in the third quarter. The indicators also point to the possibility that this dampening effect could intensify in the coming months. As pressure mounts on the Federal Reserve, similar to trends seen globally, there is an increasing call to ease credit conditions.
It's particularly surprising that despite the massive expansion of the industrial-military complex, these economic indicators are still performing so poorly. More escalation is on the air...