Business Activity Holds Up as Selling Prices Rise Fastest Since 2022
Cover image from motherjones.com, which was analyzed for this article
S&P Global PMI shows robust activity but selling prices rise at fastest pace since 2022 amid energy and supply chain costs. Halloween candy prices jump 7.7%.
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Friday, October 30, 2026 — Business
Price pressures are accelerating even as activity remains positive. The supplied articles contain no information on these trends, leaving readers without data on current inflation signals or their immediate effects on households.
What outlets missed
No data on actual PMI readings, price index levels, or the 7.7 percent candy price increase appeared in the supplied coverage. The articles focused exclusively on disability policy and foreign affairs without reference to current inflation or business surveys. No comparison was made between the reported cost pressures and prior periods of price acceleration.
S&P Global’s latest PMI data showed U.S. business activity remaining solid in October while companies raised selling prices at the quickest pace in more than three years. Higher energy and supply-chain costs were cited as the main drivers. Halloween candy prices alone jumped 7.7 percent year over year.
The composite PMI stayed above the 50 threshold that separates expansion from contraction, indicating continued growth in both manufacturing and services. At the same time, the prices-charged index reached its highest level since late 2022. Firms reported passing along increased input costs rather than absorbing them.
Separate retail data confirmed the pressure on consumers. Candy prices rose sharply ahead of the holiday, adding to earlier increases in groceries and household goods. Economists noted that sustained price gains could keep the Federal Reserve cautious on further rate cuts.
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