Services sector index dips a bit in October, but still shows expansion

Here's another sign that the U.S. economic recovery may be mild, not robust: The Institute for Supply Management's Non-Manufacturing Index, also known as the services index, dipped to 50.6 in October from 50.9 in September, the ISM announced Wednesday. Numbers above 50 indicate an expansion in the sector; below 50, a contraction.

A Bloomberg News survey had expected the service index to total 51.6 in October. The index totaled 48.4 percent in August, and hit a low of 37.4 percent in November 2008.