LONDON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Global services and manufacturing activity contracted again in December but picked up from lows hit in November following a less severe drop than expected in a key measure of the U.S. services economy.
The Global Total Output index, produced by JP Morgan with research and supply management organisations, rose to 37.5 in December from the series record low of 35.5 in November, well below the 50 mark that divides growth from contraction.
Earlier on Tuesday the U.S. ISM index covering the non-manufacturing sector showed a smaller than expected pace of contraction, rising to 40.6 from 37.3, the first time since last August that the index has risen.
The Global Services index rose to 40.0 in December from 36.1 in November.
"All of the major economic regions (are) entering the new year on their weakest footing for decades," said David Hensley at JP Morgan in a release, emphasising that despite the slight upturn, the data remain weak.
The index combines survey data from countries including the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia.
(For a TABLE, see [ID:nL6692609]) (Reporting by Nigel Davies; Editing by Chris Pizzey)