MarketWatch (10/03/12) Jeffrey Bartash
The Institute for Supply Management on Oct. 3 reported its services index increased to 55.1 in September from 53.7 in August. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected the index to hold steady at 53.7. The new-orders index, a sign of future demand, rose 4.0 points to 57.7, the highest reading since March. The inventories gauge fell to 48.5 from 52.5, while the prices index climbed to 68.1 from 64.3.