According to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), U.S. manufacturing activity returned to expansion in January 2026, with the Manufacturing PMI® registering 52.6%—up from 47.9% in December. [ismworld.org] Notably, ISM reported:
A PMI move back above 50 doesn’t automatically mean “clear skies,” but it does signal a potential near-term shift in demand patterns, especially when paired with stronger new orders. [ismworld.org] From a digital + go-to-market standpoint, this is where many manufacturers get caught flat-footed: demand increases (or shifts) faster than product content, availability messaging, and quoting/eCommerce workflows can keep up.
Actionable takeaway: if you’re seeing order velocity change, now is a good time to verify your customer-facing product truth—lead times, availability signals, substitutes/alternates, and documentation...so your channels can scale without creating internal chaos.
Read the full report from ISM. https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-pmi-reports/pmi/january/