Daily Roundup of Key US Economic Data for Sept. 23

02:55 PM EDT, 09/23/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The flash manufacturing reading from S&P Global rose to a 52-month high of 57.0 in September from 53.9 in August after regional data from the New York, Richmond and Philadelphia Federal Reserve banks declined. Released at the same time, the flash services reading from S&P Global rose to a 59-month high of 58.7 in September from 56.5 in August, suggesting faster expansion in contrast to the regional data released to this point. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported a 1.5% decline in mortgage applications in the week ended Sept. 18 after a 4.1% drop in the previous week. Refinancing activity and new home applications both declined as average 30-year fixed mortgage rates hit their highest point since May 2024. Total crude oil inventories rose by 2.6 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 18, with commercial oil inventories up 3.0 million barrels and stocks in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve down 400,000 barrels. Gasoline inventories and distillate inventories both decreased last week.