Breaking: US ISM Services PMI declines to 549 in September

The US ISM Services PMI missed consensus in September.
The US Dollar keeps its rally well in place.

Fresh data from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed the Services PMI weakening to 54.9 in September from 55.4 in the previous month, coming in below previous estimates (55) and signalling a slight loss of momentum in the sector.

Inflation pressures gathered traction, with the Prices Paid Index edging higher to 74 from 72.6. Hiring conditions improved marginally, with the Employment Index ticking higher to 50.1 from 47.8. Meanwhile, new business lost some impulse, with the New Orders Index dropping to 59.8 from 60.9.

Market reaction

The Greenback remains well bid on Monday, motivating the US Dollar Index (DXY) to hit fresh tops near 102.60 in quite an auspicious start to the week.

US Dollar Price Today

The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the New Zealand Dollar.

	USD	EUR	GBP	JPY	CAD	AUD	NZD	CHF
USD		0.57%	0.31%	0.16%	0.05%	-0.15%	0.59%	0.36%
EUR	-0.57%		-0.23%	-0.39%	-0.51%	-0.55%	-0.06%	-0.17%
GBP	-0.31%	0.23%		-0.17%	-0.26%	-0.32%	0.16%	0.06%
JPY	-0.16%	0.39%	0.17%		-0.12%	-0.22%	0.33%	0.22%
CAD	-0.05%	0.51%	0.26%	0.12%		-0.09%	0.43%	0.31%
AUD	0.15%	0.55%	0.32%	0.22%	0.09%		0.50%	0.38%
NZD	-0.59%	0.06%	-0.16%	-0.33%	-0.43%	-0.50%		-0.12%
CHF	-0.36%	0.17%	-0.06%	-0.22%	-0.31%	-0.38%	0.12%

The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).

This section below was published as a preview of the US ISM Services PMI at 1230:00 GMT.

The US ISM Services PMI is expected to show the sector’s resilience in September.
The US services sector is expected to remain well into expansionary territory.
Bets of further Fed tightening appear to have lost traction in the last few days.

On Monday, we’ll get the latest read on the US services sector when the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) publishes its September gauge. Consensus points to a marginal downtick to 55 from August’s 55.4. If confirmed, the reading is unlikely to significantly dent the current sector’s resilience and confidence in the broader economy.

Back in August, the details from that release were mixed: hiring momentum picked up pace, with the ISM Employment Index climbing a tad to 47.8 (from 47.4). In the same line, New Orders gathered decent steam, increasing to 60.9, which hinted that demand may be picking up pace. In tandem with the steady growth, the Prices Paid Index rose to 72.6, echoing the strengthening momentum of inflation pressures.

What to expect from the ISM Services PMI report?

Inflation in the US is still running hotter than the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) 2% target, and that keeps policymakers uneasy, especially amid the still unresolved crisis in the Middle East and with the full effects of US tariffs yet to filter through the economy.

The inflationary pressure in the US appears to have lost some traction in August, following the latest data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE). However, Fed officials and Chair Kevin Warsh have been cautious in their latest comments, keeping the issue of (still elevated) inflation on the table and the main source of the recent increase in speculation surrounding extra rate hikes in the second half of the year.

Against that backdrop, an ISM Services PMI that lands in line with expectations probably won’t move the US Dollar (USD) much. It would simply confirm the picture of an economy that’s still resilient but still wrestling with sticky price pressures. A softer-than-expected print, though, could shake confidence and see investors probably trimming their USD holdings on fears that growth is losing momentum.

When will the ISM Services Purchasing Managers Index report be released, and how could it affect EUR/USD?

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) will publish the Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) on Monday at 14:00 GMT.

Pablo Piovano, Senior Analyst at FXStreet, explains that the near-term outlook for EUR/USD has markedly deteriorated since the beginning of September, coincidentally with a break below its critical 200-day SMA.

Against that, Piovano argues that with spot trading near the 1.1200 yardstick, the continuation of the bearish trend should meet the next support at the May 2025 floor at 1.1064 (May 21). Further south comes the psychological 1.1000 contention zone prior to the weekly trough at 1.0732 (March 27, 2025).

On the flip side, “If the pair manages to reclaim the 1.1515-1.1520 zone, where both the provisional 55-day and 100-day SMAs sit, the next target is expected to emerge at the more relevant 200-day SMA around 1.1610," Piovano adds.

“Momentum indicators also suggest that further pullbacks are likely for now, although a technical bounce cannot be ruled out given that the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is around 17, while the Average Directional Index (ADX) near 40 indicates that the current trend remains robust," he concludes.

Economic Indicator

ISM Services PMI

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), released on a monthly basis, is a leading indicator gauging business activity in the US services sector, which makes up most of the economy. The indicator is obtained from a survey of supply executives across the US based on information they have collected within their respective organizations. Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month. A reading above 50 indicates that the services economy is generally expanding, a bullish sign for the US Dollar (USD). A reading below 50 signals that services sector activity is generally declining, which is seen as bearish for USD.

Why it matters to traders?

The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) reveals the current conditions in the US service sector, which has historically been a large GDP contributor. A print above 50 shows expansion in the service sector’s economic activity. Stronger-than-expected readings usually help the USD gather strength against its rivals. In addition to the headline PMI, the Employment Index and the Prices Paid Index numbers are also watched closely by investors as they provide useful insights regarding the state of the labour market and inflation.

US Dollar FAQs

What is the US Dollar?

The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency of the United States of America, and the ‘de facto’ currency of a significant number of other countries where it is found in circulation alongside local notes. It is the most heavily traded currency in the world, accounting for over 88% of all global foreign exchange turnover, or an average of $6.6 trillion in transactions per day, according to data from 2022. Following the second world war, the USD took over from the British Pound as the world’s reserve currency. For most of its history, the US Dollar was backed by Gold, until the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1971 when the Gold Standard went away.

How do the decisions of the Federal Reserve impact the US Dollar?

The most important single factor impacting on the value of the US Dollar is monetary policy, which is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability (control inflation) and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these two goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, the Fed will raise rates, which helps the USD value. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates, which weighs on the Greenback.

What is Quantitative Easing and how does it influence the US Dollar?

In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve can also print more Dollars and enact quantitative easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used when credit has dried up because banks will not lend to each other (out of the fear of counterparty default). It is a last resort when simply lowering interest rates is unlikely to achieve the necessary result. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice to combat the credit crunch that occurred during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy US government bonds predominantly from financial institutions. QE usually leads to a weaker US Dollar.

What is Quantitative Tightening and how does it influence the US Dollar?

Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing in new purchases. It is usually positive for the US Dollar.

Breaking: US ISM Services PMI declines to 54.9 in September