US Business Activity Inches up in June; Price Pressures Abating

A worker assembles parts of a Tundra Truck at Toyota's truck plant in San Antonio, Texas, US, April 17, 2023. (Reuters)
A worker assembles parts of a Tundra Truck at Toyota's truck plant in San Antonio, Texas, US, April 17, 2023. (Reuters)
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US Business Activity Inches up in June; Price Pressures Abating

A worker assembles parts of a Tundra Truck at Toyota's truck plant in San Antonio, Texas, US, April 17, 2023. (Reuters)
A worker assembles parts of a Tundra Truck at Toyota's truck plant in San Antonio, Texas, US, April 17, 2023. (Reuters)

US business activity crept up to a 26-month high in June amid a rebound in employment, but price pressures subsided considerably, offering hope that a recent slowdown in inflation was likely to be sustained.

S&P Global said on Friday that its flash US Composite PMI Output Index, which tracks the manufacturing and services sectors, nudged up to 54.6 this month.

That was the highest level since April 2022 and followed a final reading of 54.5 in May. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the private sector. Both the services and manufacturing sectors contributed to the gain in activity.

The elevated composite PMI reading suggests that the economy ended the second quarter on a solid note. So-called hard data, however, paint a different picture. Retail sales barely rose in May after falling in April. Housing starts extended their decline, hitting the lowest level in nearly four years in May.

The economy is slowing following 525 basis points worth of interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve since 2022 to tame inflation. The loss of momentum together with easing inflation pressures are keeping a rate cut this year on the table.

The US central bank has maintained its benchmark overnight interest rate in the current 5.25%-5.50% range since last July.

The S&P Global survey's measure of new orders received by private businesses increased to 53.4 this month from 51.7 in May.

Its measure of employment rose for the first time in three months amid what S&P Global said was "improved business confidence for the year ahead" as well as "renewed pressure on operating capacity from rising demand."

The drop in the prior months had raised fears among some economists of a looming sharp slowdown in job growth. So far the labor market has continued to churn out jobs at a solid clip.

The pace of increase in input prices slowed as did the rate at which businesses are raising prices for goods and services.

The prices paid for inputs measure dropped to 56.6 from 57.2 in May. The output prices gauge fell to a five-month low of 53.5 from 54.3 in May. The moderation was in both manufacturing and the services sector, where the rise was among the slowest over the past four years.

"Historical comparisons indicate that the latest decline brings the survey's price gauge into line with the Fed's 2% inflation target," said Chris Williamson, chief business Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Inflation moderated in May, with the consumer price index unchanged for the first time in nearly two years.

The survey's flash manufacturing PMI edged up to 51.7 this month from 51.3 in May. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the index for the sector, which accounts for 10.4% of the economy, dipping to 51.

S&P Global said "manufacturers' commonly cited concerns over the demand environment in the months ahead as well as election-related uncertainty, notably relating to policy."

Its flash services PMI increased to 55.1, a 26-month high, from 54.8 in May. That exceeded economists' expectations for a reading of 53.7.



Air France-KLM to Take Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airline SAS

(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on July 04, 2025 shows a Scandinavian airline SAS plane flying over Heathrow airport on the outskirts of London on January 15, 2024 (top) and an Air France-KLM plane taking off from Tegel 'Otto Lilienthal' Airport in Berlin on November 8, 2020. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS and Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on July 04, 2025 shows a Scandinavian airline SAS plane flying over Heathrow airport on the outskirts of London on January 15, 2024 (top) and an Air France-KLM plane taking off from Tegel 'Otto Lilienthal' Airport in Berlin on November 8, 2020. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS and Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)
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Air France-KLM to Take Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airline SAS

(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on July 04, 2025 shows a Scandinavian airline SAS plane flying over Heathrow airport on the outskirts of London on January 15, 2024 (top) and an Air France-KLM plane taking off from Tegel 'Otto Lilienthal' Airport in Berlin on November 8, 2020. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS and Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on July 04, 2025 shows a Scandinavian airline SAS plane flying over Heathrow airport on the outskirts of London on January 15, 2024 (top) and an Air France-KLM plane taking off from Tegel 'Otto Lilienthal' Airport in Berlin on November 8, 2020. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS and Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)

Air France-KLM plans to increase its stake in Scandinavian airline SAS to 60.5%, the latest step towards consolidating Europe's fragmented airline sector as carriers seek to strengthen their position against rivals.

The Franco-Dutch airline group said on Friday it intended to increase its stake from 19.9% currently by acquiring the stakes held by top shareholders Castlelake and Lind Invest.

The purchase, subject to regulatory clearances, is expected to close in the second half of 2026, Reuters quoted Air France-KLM as saying.

The value of the investment would be determined at closing, based on SAS's latest financial performance, including core earnings (EBITDA) and net debt, the company said. It declined to give details on those metrics.

Air France-KLM expects to generate "three-digit million" euros in synergies from raising its SAS stake, Air France-KLM finance chief Steven Zaat told analysts on a call.

Zaat said the deal would be funded from cash or a "plain vanilla bond" and would not impact the drive to reduce the group's hybrid debt. "We have ample room for it," he said.

Air France-KLM shares were flat in early trading.

JPMorgan analysts said there were reasons to be positive about the deal.

"SAS offers deeper access to a GDP-rich region in Scandinavia, there will now be an opportunity to unlock cost synergies as SAS becomes a subsidiary of the group," they said in a note, adding that "industry consolidation should also be viewed positively for the whole sector, even if not game-changing in terms of size."

INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION

SAS welcomed Air France-KLM's announcement.

"European consolidation had to happen further, and we're very happy to be part of that," SAS CEO Anko van der Werff told Danish broadcaster TV2.

"In the current setup where Air France-KLM is a 19.9% shareholder, they're still a competitor," he said. "With the new stake, going above 50%, we can really tap into all of those synergies and offer those benefits to customers."

SAS said it would continue to invest in its fleet and network.

In 2023, Air France-KLM said it would invest about $144.5 million for its initial SAS stake, boosting its presence in Sweden, Denmark and Norway with the option to become a controlling shareholder after a minimum of two years, subject to conditions.

SAS exited from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August last year.

The two carriers have already had a commercial cooperation since summer 2024. Control of SAS would allow Air France-KLM to expand in the Scandinavian market and create additional value for shareholders, Air France-KLM said in a statement.

"Following their successful restructuring, SAS has delivered impressive performance, and we are confident that the airline's potential will continue to grow through deeper integration within the Air France-KLM Group," said Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith.

The deal comes as executives seek more consolidation in Europe's fragmented airline industry, which they say is needed to compete with US and Middle Eastern rivals.

Earlier this year, Germany's Lufthansa bought a 41% stake in Italy's ITA Airways and a stake in Air Baltic. The Portuguese government is looking to privatize its national carrier TAP.

Lufthansa and Air France are also in talks about buying a stake in Spain's Air Europa.
SAS has 138 aircraft in service and carried more than 25 million passengers last year, generating revenues of 4.1 billion euros ($4.8 billion).

Air France-KLM group would have a majority of seats on the board of directors, while the Danish state will keep its 26.4% stake in SAS and its seats on the board.