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 epidemic, the monthly survey shows from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) released Thursday.
The ISM services index stood at 62.0 against 69.1 the previous month, while economists polled by Reuters on average expected a figure of 66.9. November’s figure was the highest since the survey began in 1997.
The sub-index for new orders received by companies in the sector also fell to 61.5 in December, a ten-month low, from 69.7 in November.
The employment sub-index fell to 54.9 from 56.5 the previous month. On the other hand, that of prices paid rose slightly to 82.5 against 82.3 in November.
The 50 mark separates growth and contraction in activity.
In the financial markets, the Dow Jones, the S & P-500 and the Nasdaq, which were moving 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, edited by Sophie Louet)