WASHINGTON – U.S. services sector activity was steady in August, but employment gains slowed, consistent with an easing labor market.
On Thursday, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said that its nonmanufacturing purchasing managers (PMI) index was little changed at 51.5 last month compared to 51.4 in July.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates growth in the services sector, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the economy. The ISM views readings above 49 over time as generally indicating an expansion of the overall economy.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the services PMI dipping to 51.1. The report added to solid consumer spending in July, suggesting that the economy continued to expand, though at a moderate pace relative to last year.
A jump in the unemployment rate to a near three-year high of 4.3% in July sparked fears of a recession and put a 50-basis points interest rate cut on the table this month when the Federal Reserve is expected to start its easing cycle.
The ISM survey’s new orders measure increased to 53.0 from 52.4 in July. Its measure of services employment fell to 50.2 from 51.1 in July.
The labor market is slowing, but hardly deteriorating. On Wednesday, Government data showed there were 1.07 job openings for every unemployed person in July, down from 1.16 in June.
According to a Reuters survey, the economy is expected to have added 160,000 nonfarm payrolls in August, following an increase of 114,000 in July. The unemployment rate is forecast to slip to 4.2%.
Services inflation was little changed last month. The ISM’s prices paid measure for services inputs edged up to 57.3 from 57.0 in July. Price pressures in the economy are subsiding as higher borrowing costs curb demand.
(Source: ReutersReuters)
