(CEP News) - The services sector in the United States dropped less than expected in February, according to a key national survey.
The ISM Non-Manufacturing Index (NMI), a key survey of the services, construction and financial industries, moved down to 41.6 in February from the 42.9 level recorded in January.
The consensus expected the index to fall to 41.0.
Business activity moved down to 40.2 from 44.2, while and new orders fell to 40.7 from 41.6.
The ISM's employment index came in at 37.3, a slight increase from the 34.4 level in January, running against very weak forecasts for Friday's BLS nonfarm payrolls report. This is the 10th straight month of sub-50 levels
