Services Sector Continues Long Expansion

Washington, DC, April 4, 2012 -- The Institute for Supply Management's services-sector gauge for March fell to 56.0% from 57.3% in February.

The ISM's measures for new orders and production fell, accounting for most of the decline.

Economists expected the ISM services index to pull back to 56.8% last month. Any reading over 50% indicates that more firms are expanding than contracting.

The index has been above the 50% mark for more than two years.