Economic activity in the services sector grew in June for the 25th month in a row — with the Services PMI® registering 55.3 percent, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Services ISM® Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves, CPSM, C.P.M., A.P.P., CFPM, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Services Business Survey Committee: “In June, the Services PMI® registered 55.3 percent, 0.6 percentage point lower than May’s reading of 55.9 percent. This is the lowest reading since May 2020 (45.2 percent). The Business Activity Index registered 56.1 percent, an increase of 1.6 percentage points compared to the reading of 54.5 percent in May. The New Orders Index figure of 55.6 percent is 2 percentage points lower than the May reading of 57.6 percent.

“The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 61.9 percent, 0.6 percentage point higher than the 61.3 percent reported in May. (Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM® Report On Business® index that is inversed; a reading of above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries, which is typical as the economy improves and customer demand increases.)

“The Prices Index dropped for the second consecutive month in June, decreasing 2 percentage points to 80.1 percent. Services businesses continue to struggle to replenish inventories, as the Inventories Index contracted for the first time since January 2022; the reading of 47.5 percent is down 3.5 percentage points from May’s figure of 51 percent. The Inventory Sentiment Index (46.2 percent, up 1.7 percentage points from May’s reading of 44.5 percent) contracted in June for the fourth consecutive month, indicating that inventories are in ‘too low’ territory and insufficient for current business requirements.”

Nieves continues, “According to the Services PMI®, all 18 industries reported growth. The composite index indicated growth for the 25th consecutive month after a two-month contraction in April and May 2020. Growth continues — albeit slower — for the services sector, which has expanded for all but two of the last 149 months. The slight slowdown in services sector growth was due to a decline in new orders and employment. The Employment Index (47.4 percent) contracted, and the Backlog of Orders Index grew 8.5 percentage points, to 60.5 percent. Logistical challenges, a restricted labor pool, material shortages, inflation, the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine continue to negatively impact the services sector.”

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
The 18 services industries reporting growth in June — listed in order — are: Mining; Management of Companies & Support Services; Other Services; Construction; Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Utilities; Public Administration; Wholesale Trade; Health Care & Social Assistance; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Transportation & Warehousing; Accommodation & Food Services; Retail Trade; Finance & Insurance; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Information; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; and Educational Services. No industry reported a decrease in the month of June.

WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING
“Supply chain and supplier reliability continues to improve for most of our key food and packaging needs. Equipment still (experiencing) typical long delays. Staffing employment challenges have resurfaced, and costs have dramatically increased on core needs, led by soybean oil products. Rise in diesel fuel affecting almost everything.” [Accommodation & Food Services]
“(Interest) rate increases have slowed sales but have not helped with supply challenges yet.” [Construction]
“While activity dropped 2 percent from the previous month, activity volume was 47 percent higher compared to May 2021.” [Educational Services]
“It seems like everyone is jumping on the bandwagon (of) raising prices under the guise of inflation, cost of energy and shortages. Costs on even software renewals have gone up between 5 and 10 percent. This is getting out of control, and we need to be diligent in researching the cause of rising prices on every transaction.” [Public Administration]
“The shutdowns in China due to the zero-COVID policy have adversely impacted our supply chain.” [Health Care & Social Assistance]
“Demand has softened across consumer product lines, channels and brands over the last year, to levels below those forecast earlier this year. Adjusting all outlooks down for the rest of year. The (Shanghai) omicron slowdown had an impact, but activity is slowly coming back.” [Information]
“Energy services sector demand and activity remains strong.” [Mining]
“Consumers are shifting purchases away from our discretionary products to essentials. Inflation is definitely taking a bite from our sales, and mall traffic is far below the norm, potentially due to inflation, a need for more disposable income on essentials and less willingness to drive to malls. E-commerce sales will be going up again.” [Retail Trade]
“Despite higher inflation and energy costs, demand and business activity continue to be at record highs, with little sign of a slowdown.” [Utilities]
“Business continues to stay steady amid rising interest rates, a lack of labor, inflation, transportation problems and high gas/diesel prices. Outlook is measured due to economic headwinds.” [Wholesale Trade]