U.S. Non- Manufacturing Index Slightly Increased to 57.3%

Yesterday, the U.S. non-manufacturing ISM report was released and it showed the
U.S. non-manufacturing PMI reached 57.3% in February 2012. The U.S.
non-manufacturing PMI, which is an index that estimates the economic activity in
the U.S. non-manufacturing sector, expanded for the 26th consecutive month; the
growth rate slightly rose from 56.8% in January 2012 to 57.3% in February 2012
i.e. a 0.5 percent points fain. This means that while the US non-manufacturing
sector is still growing, it grew during February by a slightly faster pace than
in January. Among the leading sectors in U.S. non-manufacturing industries that
grew during February include: Retail Trade; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing;
Educational Services; Wholesale Trade; Other Services; Transportation &
Warehousing; Finance & Insurance; Construction; Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
The leading industries that contracted during February include: Management of
Companies & Support Services; Retail Trade; and Health Care & Social Assistance.
The report shows that prices related to the non-manufacturing industries were
growing faster in February than in January (a rise of 4.9%). The business
activity/production also grew in February compared with the rate in January.
Currently, the major U.S. stock market indexes are traded sharply down including
the DOW S&P500 and NASDAQ. Furthermore,