Off the wire
Germany approves import of hunting trophies from endangered species: report  • U.S. stocks keep rising despite downbeat jobs report  • Canada sees lowest monthly jobless rate since 1976  • U.S. trade deficit rises to near six-year high in November  • U.S. average fuel economy in 2017 unchanged from 2016  • JSE closes higher as local currency weakens  • Arsenal manager Wenger banned for three matches after admitting misconduct charge  • ExxonMobil announces new oil discovery offshore Guyana  • Hamas, Islamic Jihad call on PLO to withdraw Israel recognition  • Palestinians deeply concerned over stopping international aid to UNRWA  
You are here:  

U.S. service sector growth slows in December

Xinhua,January 06, 2018 Adjust font size:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. non-manufacturing economic activity declined in December 2017 from the previous month, but was still well on track of expansion, according to data released by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) on Friday.

The measure of economic activity in service sector fell to 55.9 in December, which is 1.5 percent lower than the November reading of 57.4 percent, data showed.

"This represents continued growth in the non-manufacturing sector at a slower rate," said ISM. The December figure represents the 96th consecutive month of growth in service sector.

The index of non-manufacturing activity measures economic activities in 17 industries, including retail trade, arts, finance, etc.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the service sector, and a reading below 50 means contraction. Enditem