by Calculated Risk on 5/05/2009 12:06:00 PM

This was released earlier this morning ...

From the ISM: April 2009 Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector contracted in April ...

"The NMI (Non-Manufacturing Index) registered 43.7 percent in April, 2.9 percentage points higher than the 40.8 percent registered in March, indicating contraction in the non-manufacturing sector for the seventh consecutive month, but at a slower rate. The Non-Manufacturing Business Activity Index increased 1.1 percentage points to 45.2 percent. The New Orders Index increased 8.2 percentage points to 47 percent, and the Employment Index increased 4.7 percentage points to 37 percent. The Prices Index increased 0.9 percentage point to 40 percent in April, indicating a slightly slower decrease in prices from March." [said Anthony Nieves, C.P.M., CFPM, chair of the Institute for Supply Management™ Non-Manufacturing Business Survey Committee]

Still contracting, but at a slower rate.