US Business Activity Ticks Up While Hiring Remains Weak
A worker applies a liquid agent on the inside of a mold at a castings facility in Salem, Ohio.
Photographer: Ty Wright/Bloomberg US businesses kicked off the new year with only a slight improvement in activity, keeping a lid on demand for workers.
The S&P Global flash January composite output index ticked up 0.1 point to 52.8 after sliding to an eight-month low at the end of 2025, data released Friday showed. Figures above 50 indicate expansion.