U.S. service sector strengthens in June for 6th month, ISM says

The numbers: An ISM barometer of business conditions at service sector companies such as restaurants and hotels rose to 53.9% in June  from 50.3% in the prior month. 

That was much higher than expected. Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had expected the index to rise to 51.3%.

This is the sixth consecutive month the index from the…