US Services Sector Growth Hits Five-Month Low

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during the morning of January 8, 2016 in New York. U.S. markets have declined over the past week due to market losses in China. Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images

NEW YORK—U.S. services sector activity slowed to a five-month low in December, but remained above a level consistent with solid economic growth in the fourth quarter.

The Institute for Supply Management said on Jan. 7 its non-manufacturing activity index fell to 57.6 last month, the lowest reading since July, from 60.7 in November.