TEMPE, Ariz., March 5 (Reuters) - The Institute for Supply
Management (ISM) on Tuesday said its monthly
non-manufacturing index, which measures the services sector of
the economy, rose to 58.7 in February from 49.6 in January.
A number above 50 indicates growth, while anything below 50
denotes contraction. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast
a rise to 51.4.
Following are the main ISM non-manufacturing index
components:
Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct Sept
Bus Activity 58.7 49.6 50.1 49.8 40.4 49.1
New Orders 57.3 49.4 51.5 47.7 40.3 48.9
Backlog Orders 47.5 45.5 46.5 42.0 40.5 48.5
New Export Ords 52.5 56.5 55.0 48.5 44.5 53.5
Inventory Chg 51.5 47.5 48.5 49.5 48.0 44.5
Inventory Sent 66.5 64.5 66.5 67.0 68.5 64.0
Imports 54.3 55.3 55.9 51.6 50.7 52.7
Prices Index 50.0 49.0 38.5 38.5 41.5 49.0
Employment 43.6 44.5 44.4 44.3 43.7 46.1
Supplier Delivs 53.0 53.0 53.5 52.5 53.5 51.0

THE SURVEY: ISM, formerly called the National Association
of Purchasing Management, compiles its diffusion index by
surveying more than 370 purchasing executives in more than 62
different service industries once a month.
The responses reflect the change in the current month
compared to the previous month. The non-manufacturing ISM
Report is seasonally adjusted for business activity, new
orders, imports, and employment.
The ISM non-manufacturing survey was launched in July
1997.

FULL TEXT:
For the text of the Institute for Supply Management's
Purchasing Managers Survey. It can be found on the Internet at
the following address:
http://www.ism.ws/

((U.S. Financial Markets, +646-223-6300))



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