WASHINGTON, Jan.6 (Reuters) – Growth in US service sector activity slowed more than expected in December, possibly due to the resurgence of the COVID-19 outbreak, the monthly survey shows of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) releases Thursday.
The ISM services index came out 62.0 against 69.1 the previous month while economists polled by Reuters expected on average a figure of 66.9. November’s figure was the highest since the survey began in 1997.
The sub-index of new orders received by companies in the sector also fell 61.5 in December, a ten-month low, from 69.7 in November.
The employment sub-index for its part fell 54.9, after 56.5 the previous month. On the other hand, that of country prices rose slightly to 82.5 against 82.3 in November.
The 50 mark separates growth and contraction in activity.
In financial markets, the Dow Jones, the S & P-500 and the Nasdaq, which had been on a hesitant note since the opening of Wall Street, increased their losses after the publication of this indicator. (Report Lucia Mutikani; French version Claude Chendjou, said by Sophie Louet)
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