Chef Sam Adkins at his restaurant, Sally's Middle Name in Washington, D.C.

Economic activity in the services sector grew in January for the 85th consecutive month, according to data from the Institute for Supply Management on Friday.

The institute's non-manufacturing index hit 56.5 in January. The index hit 56.6 in the previous month.



Economist expected the institute's non-manufacturing index hit 57 in January, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters.

"This represents continued growth in the non-manufacturing sector at a slightly slower rate," the report said.



A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the service sector and a reading below 50 indicates contraction.

The employment index rose 2 percentage points in January to 54.7 percent from the seasonally adjusted December reading of 52.7 percent. The prices index increased 2.9 percentage points from the seasonally adjusted Decemberreading of 56.1 percent to 59 percent.