US: Service sector activity growth eases in August - Markit

"Service sector activity growth eases, amid weaker new business upturn," the IHS Markit reported on Thursday.

• The seasonally adjusted final IHS Markit U.S. Services Business Activity Index registered 54.8 in August, down from 56.0 in July. 
• New business also increased in August, but the rate of expansion dipped to an eight-month low. 
• Although still solid, the rate of job creation dipped to a seven-month low in August. 
• Input prices paid by service sector firms continued to increase at a strong rate in August. 
• Finally, business confidence was strongly positive and optimism improved from July’s recent low in August.