Growth in U.S. service sector accelerates in August, ISM survey shows

The numbers: An ISM barometer of U.S. business conditions at service companies such as restaurants and hotels strengthened to 54.5% in August from 52.7% in the prior month. This is the highest level since February.

Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had expected the index to slip to 52.5%.

This is the eighth straight reading above…