ISM Report: Service Sector Nearing Stability

The economy is still contracting, but U.S. service sector data is slowly reaching levels of stability.

The Institute for Supply Management's index of non-manufacturing businesses -- which comprise almost 90% of the economy -- rose to 47% in June from 44% in May. Economists expected the index to jump to 46%. Readings less than 50 signal contraction.

This is the index's third consecutive month of improvement.

The business activity index rose to 49.8% in June from 42.4% in the previous month, while new orders grew to 48.6% from 44.4%. ...