Published June 3, 2015 10:03am EDT | Updated June 3, 2015 11:05am EDT

ISM Services Index Comes In Below Forecast For May At 55.7%

A measure of services activity grew at a somewhat slower rate in May, the Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday. The ISM services index fell to 55.7% from 57.8% in April, coming in below the 57% forecast in a MarketWatch-compiled economist poll. That's still well above the 50% mark indicating improving conditions. Ahead of the key jobs report, the employment index decreased 1.4 percentage points to 55.3%.