All Indexes are now over the critical 50 no-growth line, so the overall picture for April is positive, reflecting a wide spectrum of increasing economic activity.

The biggest rise in the month came from the Staffing Index which rose to its highest level in 17 months. Normally a lagging indicator - companies are often reluctant to hire more staff after passing through difficult times - the Staffing Index is performing in character, in only returning to growth once most other indexes have signalled recovery.

Crucially, the evidence presented by the April Sales Managers Survey also suggests that the Federal Reserve's Interest rate hikes are having a restraining impact on prices, although price rises remain too high for comfort. The Sales Managers Price index, fell in April to the still high level of 54.2 from the far from ideal reading of 56.4 recorded in March.

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