Key U.S. economic indicators scheduled for release on Friday will provide insight into the health of the manufacturing and services sectors, alongside oil drilling activity.
S&P Global is set to publish its latest manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index at 8:45 a.m. ET, with the consensus forecast pointing to a reading of 54.0, slightly above July’s final figure of 53.9. The services PMI, also due at 8:45 a.m. ET, is expected to decline to 53.9 from 54.6 previously, based on the median estimate. The composite PMI, which aggregates both sectors, is not subject to a new forecast but stood at 54.5 in the prior month.
A reading above 50 indicates expansion in activity for both the manufacturing and services PMIs. The manufacturing gauge surveys purchasing managers at over 600 firms, while the services index reflects responses from more than 400 private-sector service executives.
Later in the session, Baker Hughes will release its weekly U.S. rig count at 12:00 p.m. ET. The prior report showed 455 active rigs, a figure closely watched as an indicator of demand for oilfield services and broader energy sector conditions. The total rig count, including both oil and natural gas, stood at 593 in the previous week.
The data releases come amid ongoing monitoring of the U.S. economy’s resilience, with investors parsing incoming indicators for signs of sustained growth or potential moderation.
