U.S. flash Composite PMI rose to 58.4 in September 2026, the highest in over five years
S&P Global's flash U.S. Composite PMI Output Index rose to 58.4 in September 2026 from 56.0 in August, reflecting expansion across both manufacturing and services. Strong demand strained supply chains and pushed input prices higher, with the prices-paid gauge jumping to 66.4. The Federal Reserve had raised its benchmark rate to the 3.75%-4.00% range the prior week.
3
Divergence score
2 outlets covered it, splitting into 2 framing camps across 2 bias groups.
2 camps
2 bias groups
The spectrum · how 2 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
Globe and Mail
Reuters
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
First to report
- Reutersfirst
- Globe and Mail+9.2 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
Both outlets report nearly identical facts from the same S&P Global PMI release; the Globe and Mail adds supply chain bottlenecks linked to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and Atlanta Fed GDP tracking at 5.1%, while Reuters leads with the same headline numbers.
How each outlet covered it
No left-right split here
Coverage clusters in the center and international press. Here is each take as it stands.
Center & international coverage
“U.S. business activity rises to five-year high; inflation pressures build”
“US business activity at more than five-year high; inflation pressures building”
6 tracked claims across 2 outlets
Fact ledger
All6Claimed4Corroborated2
1/2
Claimed
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark overnight rate by 25 basis points to the 3.75%-4.00% range the prior week
Corroborated
Disputed
5 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger