The ISM index stood at 61.9%, up from 61.7% in August and while analysts expected a slowdown to 60%.
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Activity in services grew more than expected in September in the United States, despite persistent difficulties related to employment, logistics and supply, according to the index of the professional federation ISM published Tuesday.
The index, which measures the level of business activity, stood at 61.9%, showing faster growth than in August, when it was 61.7%.
The figure also surprised analysts, who expected growth to slow, with an index at 60%.
Activity expands when the index is above 50%, and slows down when it is below this threshold.
This is the 16th month in a row.
The service sector, vital to the US economy, has suffered the most from restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Restaurants, hotels, leisure parks, had seen their activity increase in spring and early summer, thanks to the vaccination campaign. But the Delta variant of Covid-19 had slowed the recovery.
“Households are still reluctant to go out and take advantage of the activities given the risk to the health of the (variant) Delta,” said earlier Tuesday morning, the president of the Chicago regional office of the American Central Bank (Fed ), Charles Evans, on CNBC.
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