LOS ANGELES, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. service sector index jumped to 53 in February from 50.5 in the previous month, the highest level in more than two years, said a report released on Wednesday.

This was the fastest expansion since December 2007, according to the report released by the Tempe, Arizona-based Institute for Supply Management.

Nine service industries such as information, arts, entertainment and recreation, transportation and warehousing exceeded the level of 50, a mark indicating growth, the report said.

Across the board, new orders and inventories were up. The prices index, while still rising, dropped to 60.4 from 61.2.

Employment has declined for the last 26 months, but the institute's employment index jumped in February to 48.6 from 44.6, suggesting that more jobs could be on the horizon, according to the report.