June data highlighted another subdued month for the U.S. service sector, with activity growth remaining marginal and job creation easing to its least marked for a year-and-a-half. Incoming new work increased at the fastest pace since January, but the rate of expansion remained weaker than its post-crisis trend.

Meanwhile, service providers indicated another drop in confidence regarding the year-ahead business outlook, with the latest reading the weakest since the survey began in late- 2009. At 51.3 in June, the seasonally adjusted Markit Flash U.S. Services PMI™ Business Activity Index1 was unchanged since May and only 1 Please note that Markit's PMI data, flash and final, are derived from information collected by Markit from a different panel of companies to those that participate in the ISM Non-Manufacturing Report on Business.