U.S. non-manufacturing sector shows surprising growth

(June 5, 2012) -- "Today’s ISM non-manufacturing report provided a more upbeat assessment of economic activity in the United States than its manufacturing counterpart released last Friday that indicated that the pace of growth in the goods-producing sector eased modestly in May," said Jeffries. "Indeed, with the service sector representing a larger chuck of the overall economy, the net effect in the month was that the composite of the two measures held steady at a healthy 53.7, which is in line with its long-term average."