Service-Sector Expansion Cools in November

The pace of growth in the U.S. services sector slowed in November with employment and business activity expanding at lower rates, according to an industry report released on Wednesday.

The Institute for Supply Management said its services index fell to 53.9 last month from 55.4 in October. The reading was below a forecast for 55.0, according to a Reuters survey of economists.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the sector. November marked the 47th-straight month of growth in the services sector.

The employment gauge fell to 52.5 from October's 56.2 to hit its lowest since May, while business activity growth slowed to 55.5 last month from 59.7 in October. (Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)