The prior month's S&P PMI was 48.7.
The backlog of orders decreased slightly from last month, with a reading of 41.7 compared to 42.4 in the previous month. This indicates a continued contraction in order backlogs, which has been ongoing for 18 consecutive months.
Employment figures showed a mixed trend, with the employment index falling to 49.3 from 51.1 last month, indicating contraction. However, some industries like chemical products reported high customer orders, while others experienced reduced demand leading to workforce furloughs or reduced inventories. Overall, the job market remained strong but showed signs of fluctuation.