U.S.: ISM services index surprisingly rose in September

The U.S. ISM index of activity in the service sector, ISM non-manufacturing, rose to index 55.1 in September from 53.7 the previous month.

It was thus significantly better than expected, since analysts, according to Bloomberg News had predicted a fall to index 53.4.

A value above 50 indicates increased activity, whereas a value below 50 indicates a decline.

ISM service sector bottomed out in November 2008 at 37.4 and peaked shortly after its inception in August 1997 at 62.