The U.S. services sector expanded at a slower pace in September as the non-manufacturing business activity composite index came in at 53.0, down a bit from 53.3 in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Institute for Supply Management reported Wednesday.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had expected a 53.0 level.
An index reading below 50 signals a slowing economy, while a level above 50 suggests expansion.
The prices paid index dipped to 61.9 from 64.2. The employment index decreased to 48.7 from 51.6.
The business activity-production index grew to 57.1 from 55.6, the new orders index rose to 56.5 from 52.8, backlog of orders climbed to 52.5 from 47.5, new export orders slipped to 52.0 from 56.5, inventories fell to 51.5 from 53.5, inventory sentiment rose to 59.0 from 56.0, the supplier deliveries index fell to 49.5 from 53.0, and imports tumbled to 47.5 from 53.5.
