ISM Services Index Rises in December

The activity of the services sector in the United States expanded in December, data showed on Thursday.

The non-manufacturing activity index registered 57.2 in December, up from a reading of 55.9 in November, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

The index came very close to its level prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, as it recorded 57.3 in February in 2020, as the American economy is recovering.

The index of supplier deliveries rose to 62.8 last month from 57 in November.

The ISM new orders index for the services industry increased to 58.5 in December from 57.2 in November.

Meanwhile, the services industry employment index declined to 48.2 in December from 51.5 in November.