WASHINGTON – Revenues in key sectors of the U.S. services industry (search) grew in the second quarter, the government said on Monday in a new survey aimed at measuring growth in the giant tranche of the economy.
The Commerce Department (search) said revenues in information services rose 4.4 percent to $230.09 billion in the April-to-June quarter from the previous three months, reversing a 5.2 percent drop in the January-to-March quarter.
Broadcasting and telecommunications, the largest component of information services, grew 4.3 percent in the second quarter with revenues of $127.93 billion. Publishing revenues increased 4.1 percent to $61.01 billion.
Professional, scientific and technical services grew 6.3 percent to $246.14 billion in the second quarter, compared with a 0.3 percent fall the quarter before. Architectural and engineering services gained 12.9 percent, helping to offset a 14.1 percent drop in accounting, bookkeeping and payrolls.
Administrative support and waste management service revenues increased 5.6 percent to $121.89 billion, after a 1.2 percent increase in the first quarter.
The services sector accounts for some 80 percent of the U.S. economy but the new Quarterly Services Survey (search) captures only about 15 percent of gross domestic product. The Commerce Department has said it plans to add more categories to the report in coming years.
The services report is not seasonally adjusted, so figures may be distorted by variations like holidays, making comparisons between quarters difficult. Seasonally adjusted revenue estimates are expected after the government has collected four years' worth of data.
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