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Updated · MarketWatch · Apr 23US Business Activity Rebounds but Inflation Pressures Mount, PMI Shows
25 articles · Updated · MarketWatch · Apr 23
- US business activity picked up in April, with the S&P Global Composite PMI rising to 52.0 from 50.3.
- Manufacturing led the improvement, reaching its highest level since May 2022, but much of the growth was driven by precautionary inventory building.
- Despite the rebound, inflation pressures intensified sharply and supply chain disruptions persisted, raising concerns about sustained growth and potential Fed policy responses.
Will 'just-in-case' supply chains permanently raise consumer prices? With manufacturers 'panic buying,' is a future inventory glut inevitable? Are US reshoring policies effective enough against major global supply shocks? Is the weak service sector a truer sign of the economy's underlying health? Can the Fed fight supply-driven inflation without triggering a deep recession? How long can US households sustain spending with record debt levels?