10:08 AM EDT, 05/05/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The Institute for Supply Management's US services index rose to a reading of 51.6 in April from 50.8 in March, compared with expectations for a smaller decrease to a reading of 50.3 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:40 am ET.

The ISM's reading indicates expansion which is in line with the Kansas City and the S&P Global indexes but in contrast with all of the other regional services data that suggested contraction.

There were gains in the readings for new orders, employment and prices, but a decline in the production reading.

The monthly national services reading from the Institute for Supply Management is reported as a headline index, with readings above 50 indicating expansion and those below 50 indicating contraction. Component indexes measure new orders, production, employment, and prices.

An increase in the index further above 50 is considered a sign of a strong US services sector and would be a positive for service-sector stocks. Rising prices would normally be a negative for both stocks and bonds.