By Patrick Thomas

Business activity in the private-sector increased this month, with the rate of expansion slightly faster than the three and-a-half year low reported during August, according to results from IHS Markit data.

The September flash reading for the IHS Markit U.S. Composite PMI Output Index was 51, up from 50.7 in August.

The flash reading for IHS Markit's U.S. Manufacturing PMI -- one of the indexes that goes into the composite reading -- was 51. It rose from 50.3 in August, IHS Markit said.

IHS Markit said the latest reading was still much softer than the 55 10-year average.

"The latest survey revealed modest rises in both service sector activity and manufacturing production," IHS Markit said in its report.

The flash reading for the U.S. Services PMI Business Activity Index was 50.9, up from 50.7.

"The survey indicates that businesses continue to struggle against the headwinds of trade worries and elevated uncertainty about the outlook," IHS Chief Business Economist Chris Williamson said in prepared remarks. "Although picking up slightly, the overall rate of growth in September remained among the weakest since 2016."

Write to Patrick Thomas at patrick.thomas@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 23, 2019 10:29 ET (14:29 GMT)

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