Services Probably Expanded at Slower Pace: U.S. Economy Preview

Service industries in the U.S. probably expanded in August at the slowest pace in more than a year, adding to concern the recovery is losing steam, economists said before a report this week.

The Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing index fell to 51 last month, the lowest since January 2010, from 52.7 in July, according to the median of 59 forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey ahead of the Sept. 6 release. A reading of 50 is the dividing line between expansion and contraction. A Sept. 8 report from the Commerce Department may show the trade deficit shrank from the highest level since October 2008.