Service sector improves, but still weak

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The nation's service industries continued to decline in February, although not by as much as expected, according to a closely watched survey of executives in the sector that still raised recession worries.

The Institute of Supply Management's report on businesses outside of manufacturing came in at 49.3. That's better than the 44.6 reading for January, as well as the forecast of 47.5 from economists surveyed by Briefing.com.

But any reading below 50 indicates contraction in the sector, while a reading over 50 indicates growth.

The service sector makes up the overwhelming majority of the nation's economic activity, including everything from retailers and health care providers to airlines and utilities. It also includes some sectors badly battered by the downturn in housing and home lending, including construction and financial firms.

Taken together with the group's reading earlier this week on manufacturing, which fell to 48.3 from 50.7, the surveys show the nation's economy in decline.