Service providers indicated a further rise in business activity during April, helped by a solid rebound in new order growth. However, job creation remained only marginal and the latest increase in payroll numbers was the slowest since March 2013. Input cost inflation accelerated in April, which in turn contributed to the fastest rise in output charges since the survey began in October 2009. Adjusted for seasonal influences, the final Markit U.S. Services Business Activity Index registered 55.0 in April, down slightly from 55.3 in March and above the neutral 50.0 threshold for the sixth consecutive month. The latest ... (full story)