The U.S. services sector showed continued growth in September, but two closely watched surveys disagreed on nearly everything else—from hiring to pricing power to business activity—underscoring deep uncertainty about the economy’s momentum as the year draws to a close.

S&P Global’s U.S. Services PMI registered 54.2, marking its 32nd consecutive month of expansion. The report pointed to robust third-quarter GDP growth of around 2.5 percent, with strength concentrated in financial services, technology, and consumer-facing businesses such as leisure and recreation.

Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, described the quarter as “an impressive performance.”

The Institute for Supply Management painted a starkly different picture. Its Services PMI fell t

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