According to the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report on Business, economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in April for the 75th consecutive month.

The report was issued by Anthony Nieves, CPSM, C.P.M., CFPM and chair of the Institute for Supply Management non-manufacturing business survey committee.

In April, the NMI came in at 55.7%, 1.2 percentage points higher than the March reading of 54.5%.

“This represents continued growth in the non-manufacturing sector at a slightly faster rate,” said Nieves.

The Non-Manufacturing Business Activity Index decreased to 58.8%, 1 percentage point lower than the March reading of 59.8%, which Nieves says reflects growth for the 81st consecutive month, albeit at a slower rate in April.

The new orders index registered 59.9%, 3.2 percentage points higher than the reading of 56.7% in March. Meanwhile, the employment index increased 2.7 percentage points to 53% from the March reading of 50.3%, indicating growth for the second consecutive month. The prices index also increased, jumping 4.3 percentage points from the March reading of 49.1% to 53.4%, indicating prices increased in April for the first time in three months. According to the NMI, 13 non-manufacturing industries reported growth in April.