WASHINGTON (Feb 4): The US services sector held steady in January, but businesses paid more for inputs, suggesting that services inflation could pick up after being on a slowing trend in recent months. The services sector accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity. The ISM survey's measure of prices paid by businesses for inputs increased to 66.6 amid signs of supply strains, from 65.1 in December. The ISM's measure of supplier deliveries increased to 54.2, the highest level since October 2024, from 51.8 in December. The ISM's measure of services employment slipped to 50.3 from 51.7 in December.

Source: The Edge Markets February 04, 2026 15:16 UTC