Manufacturing PMI, services PMI among economic data due Friday

On Friday, August 21, 2026, investors will be monitoring economic data releases that could impact market trends. The U.S. economic calendar will feature crucial Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data for both the manufacturing and services sectors.

At 8:45 AM ET, the manufacturing PMI is expected to be released, with a forecast of 54.0 compared to the previous reading of 53.9. This metric gauges activity levels among purchasing managers in the manufacturing industry; figures above 50 signal expansion. The services sector will also come under scrutiny, with the services PMI due at the same time, anticipated to be 53.9 against the prior 54.6.

This index tracks business conditions in the service sector, relying on surveys of over 400 private sector service company executives.

The S&P Global Composite PMI, a blend of manufacturing and services sector data, will follow at the same time, with the previous reading at 54.5. This composite provides an all-encompassing view of private sector performance. Later, at 12:00 PM ET, two additional economic indicators will be published - the Baker Hughes U.S. Rig Count, a leading indicator for oil product demand and business conditions in the oil drilling industry, with a previous count of 455, and the U.S. Total Rig Count, tracking the overall number of active drilling rigs across the nation, previously at 593.