The Institute for Supply Management’s index of U.S. non-manufacturing businesses, which covers about 90 percent of the economy, rose to 52.6 in July from the prior month’s 52.1, the Tempe, Arizona-based group said today. The median forecast of 73 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News projected no change from June, with estimates ranging from 50.5 to 53. Readings above 50 signal expansion. The ISM services survey covers industries ranging from utilities and retailing to housing, health care and finance. The figures follow Aug. 1 data that showed manufacturing shrank for a second month as the global economy weakened. ... (full story)