(Bloomberg) -- The US service sector expanded at a steady pace in July, bolstered by a pickup in new orders and business activity. Most Read from BloombergThe Institute for Supply Management's services index rose 0.1 point to 54.1, according to data released Wednesday. New orders growth accelerated and a measure of business activity climbed to a five-month high, pointing to resilient consumer demand. "Tariff impacts and the Middle East conflict continued to be mentioned by respondents, but much less frequently than in prior reports," said Steve Miller, chair of ISM's Services Business Survey Committee. (Adds comment from ISM's Miller, industry details.)