November 4, 2026
Private sector employment in the U.S. climbed by 86,000 jobs in October. Hiring showed solid growth for a second month but noted weak spots, with the professional and business services sectors losing jobs for the third month straight. On Friday, the Labor Department is scheduled to release its more closely watched report on employment in October, which includes both public and private sector jobs. 11/04/2026 - 09:43:00 (RTTNews)
Service sector growth in the U.S. slowed modestly in October. The services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) edged down to 54.5 in October after dipping to 54.9 in September, although a reading above 50 still indicates growth. The modest decline in the headline index partly reflected a slowdown in new-order growth, as the new orders index fell from 59.8 in September to 55.9 in October. The business activity index also fell from 56.5 in September to 53.8 in October but remained in expansion territory for the 28th consecutive month.
Meanwhile, the employment index climbed from 50.1 in September to 51.4 in October, indicating an accelerated pace of job growth. The prices index dipped from 74.0 in September to 73.0 in October but came in above 70% for the seventh time in eight months. The manufacturing PMI rose to 55.5 in October after edging down to 54.5 in September, with a reading above 50 indicating growth. 11/04/2026 - 10:17:00 (RTTNews)
Euro traded at 1.1219 against USD at 9:00 AM PST
Eurozone inflation accelerated to a three-year high in October on higher energy prices, reinforcing expectations for another interest rate hike. Inflation increased from 3.8% in September to 4.0% in October. Inflation hit the highest since September 2023, when the rate was 4.3%. Core inflation that excludes prices of energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco remained unchanged at 2.5% in October. Month-on-month, the harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP) posted a 0.4% rise compared with a 0.6% increase in September.
Energy prices posted the most significant annual increase within the HICP, climbing 20.8%. This was followed by services inflation, which rose from 3.2% to 3.3%. Food, alcohol, and tobacco prices increased 1.6%, following a 1.3% gain. At the same time, non-energy industrial goods prices climbed 1.2% after rising 1.1%. Last week, the European Central Bank kept its key interest rates unchanged after the September increase as policymakers assessed the effects of the previous moves and monitored the impact of turmoil in French bond yields. 11/04/2026 - 07:10:00 (RTTNews)
The euro area private sector growth moderated to a four-month low in October as new order receipts came close to stalling and output price inflation remained historically high. The final composite output index fell from 53.1 in September to 51.7 in October. The flash reading was 51.9. Although this was the first fall since May, the indicator remained in growth territory, extending the current period of expansion to four months.
There was a broad-based growth slowdown as both manufacturing and services output increased at softer rates. The final services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dropped from 53.0 in the previous month to 51.4. This was below the flash reading of 51.7. The member state breakdown revealed continued growth trajectories in Germany, Italy, and Spain. On the other hand, France recorded a renewed contraction in economic activity.
Germany's private sector growth moderated from September's 11-month high. The composite output index dropped from 53.8 in the previous month to 53.4. The flash score was 52.8. At the same time, the services PMI fell less than expected, from 52.9 to 52.5. France's private sector expansion proved to be short-lived as the composite output index fell at the fastest pace since May. The composite output index registered 46.6, down sharply from 51.1 in the prior month and below the flash estimate of 48.4. The services PMI registered 46.2 compared with 51.2 in the previous month. The initial score was 48.4.
Growth in Italy's private sector softened in October as a faster reduction in manufacturing offset a pick-up in growth of services activity. The composite output index edged down from 51.0 in September to 50.8. Meanwhile, the services PMI ticked up from September's three-month low of 51.7 to 52.0. Elsewhere, Spain recorded activity growth for a sixth successive month in October. The composite output index posted 56.2, down from 56.8 a month ago. At the same time, the services PMI dropped from 58.3 in September to 57.2. 11/04/2026 - 08:27:00 (RTTNews)
British Pound traded at 1.3459 against USD at 9:00 AM PST
The UK service sector grew the most since February amid sustained recovery in new order intakes. The final services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose from 52.1 in the previous month to 52.8 in October. Activity across the private sector picked up for the fourth month straight in October. The final composite output index registered 52.9 compared to 52.0 in September. The flash reading was 53.1. 11/04/2026 - 08:59:00 (RTTNews)
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