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Economic activity in the services sector continued to expand in December, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest ISM® Services PMI® Report. The Services PMI® registered at 54.4 percent, finishing 2025 on a positive note with its 10th month in expansion territory — and its highest reading — of the year. The report was issued today by Steve Miller, CPSM, CSCP, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Services Business Survey Committee: "In December, the Services PMI® registered a reading of 54.4 percent, 1.8 percentage points higher than the November figure of 52.6 percent and a third consecutive month of expansion. The Business Activity Index continued in expansion territory in December, registering 56 percent, 1.5 percentage points higher than the reading of 54.5 percent recorded in November. The New Orders Index also remained in expansion in December, with a reading of 57.9 percent, 5 percentage points above November's figure of 52.9 percent. The Employment Index expanded for the first time in seven months with a reading of 52 percent, a 3.1-percentage point improvement from the 48.9 percent recorded in November — the fifth consecutive monthly increase since a reading of 46.4 percent in July. US Price Paid: 64.3 (est 64.9; prev 65.4) - New Orders: 57.9 (est 52.6; prev 52.9) - Employment: 52.0 (est 49.0; prev 48.9) ISM: US services activity improves in December The United States' service sector activity continued to grow in December, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) shared on Wednesday. The Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 54.4% in the reported month, from November's 52.6%, "finishing 2025 on a positive note with its 10th month in expansion territory." Meanwhile, the New Orders Index jumped 5 percentage points compared to the previous month, to stand at 57.9%. The Business Activity Index was 1.5 percentage points higher on a monthly level, reaching 56%. Month on month, the Employment Index improved by 3.1 percentage points, coming in at 52 and finally entering the expansion territory. "December's Services PMI is a continuation of a downward trend (as noted in previous reports) of more than 10 percentage points in the 12-month average since February 2022, when it was 62.6 percent. In an encouraging sign, the PMI readings in November and December are in line with the same months in 2024 (November 52.5 percent; December 54 percent)," Chair of the ISM Services Business Survey Committee Steve Miller said.

The number of job openings was little changed at 7.1 million in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires were little changed and total separations were unchanged at 5.1 million each. Within separations, both quits (3.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) were little changed. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class. Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the month. Hires and separations include all changes to the payroll during the entire month. Job Openings The number of job openings was little changed at 7.1 million in November but was down by 885,000 over the year. The job openings rate, at 4.3 percent, changed little over the month. The number of job openings decreased in accommodation and food services (-148,000); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-108,000); and wholesale trade (-63,000). Job openings increased in construction (+90,000). (See table 1.) Hires In November, the number and rate of hires were little changed at 5.1 million and 3.2 percent, respectively. The number of hires decreased in state and local government, excluding education (-39,000) and in state and local government education (-31,000). Hires increased in federal government (+11,000). (See table 2.) Separations Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm. In November, the number and rate of total separations were unchanged at 5.1 million and 3.2 percent, respectively. The number of total separations decreased in state and local government, excluding education (-27,000). (See table 3.) US JOLTS Job Openings Nov: 7.146M (est 7.648M; prev 7.670M; prevR 7.449M) - Job Openings Rate: 4.3% (prev 4.6%; prevR 4.5%) - Quits Level: 3.161M (est 2.995M; prev 2.941M; prevR 2.973M) - Quits Rate: 2.0% (prev 1.8%; prevR 1.9%) - Layoffs Level: 1.687M (est 1.816M; prev 1.854M;… US job openings at 7.1 million in November Job openings in the United States remained stable in November compared to October at 7.1 million, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics said in a report on Wednesday. Year-on-year, openings fell by 885,000. The biggest number of jobs was opened in construction at 90,000, while jobs declined in accommodation and food services, with 148,000 fewer positions, followed by transportation, warehousing, and utilities at 108,000 and wholesale trade at 63,000. Hires and separations stood at 5.1 million each, also largely unchanged from October. Layoffs were the highest in accommodation and food services at 107,000, health care and social assistance at 52,000 and state and local government, excluding education, at 26,000.