August 2025 ISM Manufacturing PMI Report

[UpInArms]

SAYING
“A 50-percent tariff on imports from Brazil, combined with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s elimination of the specialty sugar quota, means certified organic cane sugar — and everything made with it — is about to get significantly more expensive.” (Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)

“Orders across most product lines have decreased. Financial expectations for the rest of 2025 have been reduced. Too much uncertainty for us and our customers regarding tariffs and the U.S./global economy.” (Chemical Products)

“Tariffs continue to be unstable, with suppliers adding surcharges ranging between 2.6 percent to 50 percent.” (Petroleum & Coal Products)

“Tariffs continue to wreak havoc on planning/scheduling activities. New product development costs continue to increase as unexpected tariff increases are announced — for example, 50-percent duties on imports from India, and increases to all countries up from original 10 percent. Our materials/supplies are now rising in price, so our sell pricing is again being reviewed to ensure we keep a sustainable margin. Plans to bring production back into U.S. are impacted by higher material costs, making it more difficult to justify the return.” (Computer & Electronic Products)

“The construction industry, especially home building, is still at a lower level. With new construction at a low level, our new sales are impacted. We are mainly now relying on replacement business. Cost of goods sold is higher due to tariff-impacted goods.” (Machinery)

"Domestic sales remain flat but are down four percent from plan by unit volume [tariff pricing]. Export demand is falling as customers do not accept tariff impacts, which likely will require some production transfers out of the U.S. Supplier deliveries remain consistent with ocean shipping costs dropping significantly. Tariff costs have biggest financial impact but also costs of copper and of steel products." (Fabricated Metal Products)

“The trucking industry continues to contract. Our backlog continues to shrink as customers continue to hold off on buying new equipment. This current environment is much worse than the Great Recession of 2008-09. There is absolutely no activity in the transportation equipment industry. This is 100 percent attributable to current tariff policy and the uncertainty it has created. We are also in stagflation: Prices are up due to material tariffs, but volume is way off.” (Transportation Equipment)

More at:

https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-pmi-reports/pmi/august/

[Hugin]

1. Ha! This is where my mind is at these days...

I saw the thread title and I thought, “Oh, great. All we need is more ‘isms’.”

[UpInArms]

3. Lol

Sorry …

Should have been clearer … institute of supply management

[Hugin]

4. S'okay...

An associated issue is that my stuttering and Tourette’s are at levels not seen since prom night.

[Doodley]

2. But according to my MAGA relatives, the economy is doing amazingly thanks to Trump!

[Bobstandard]

5. Parts of the ISM report support that

There are lots of factoids in the report that can be spun as positives, so they will be.

If applying the , “ honey, who do you believe, me or your eyes?” test, you know which one MAGA will pick.

[Johnny2X2X]

6. "US manufacturing activity contracts for sixth straight month in August: 'It's survival'"

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-manufacturing-activity-contracts-for-sixth-straight-month-in-august-its-survival-151934968.html

Business can't absorb unplanned costs and can't operate with so much uncertainty. Thousands of businesses have been quietly scaling back investment and beginning layoffs. It's going to get ugly out there.