http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/us-ism-services-sector-index-plunges/story.aspx?guid=%7B9EBD8850%2D57D9%2D45F2%2DBC02%2DE40E3E828A57%7D
Feb. 5, 2008
Service sector surprisingly weak in January
ISM index plunges to 41.9%, second lowest result on record
By Greg Robb, MarketWatch
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) --
The non-manufacturing side of the U.S. economy, which had been the
firmest pillar of the economic expansion, buckled in January,
according to data reported Tuesday by the Institute for Supply
Management.
The ISM non-manufacturing index fell to a reading of 41.9% last month,
down from 54.4% in December.
It was the largest one-month drop in the index's history, coming in
well below the 53.0% reading that had been expected by economists.
It also marked the first reading below the 50% mark since March 2003,
and the second-lowest reading ever.
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Harry
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