ISM-New York March 2013 Report on Business at 51.2

NEW YORK - April 2, 2013 - PRLog -- NEW YORK CITY REPORT ON BUSINESS Activity Takes A Breather, But Not Jobs. New York City business activity expanded at the slowest pace in five months, according to the survey taken by the Institute for Supply Management-New York (ISM-NY).     Current Business Conditions fell to 51.2 in March. The 7.7-point decline was the largest in 10 months. Future optimism improved, however. The Six-Month Outlook rose to 65.2 in March, the highest level in three months.     And the jobs picture was the best in nearly two years. Employment rose to 57.3 in March, the best reading since May 2011. Purchase volume cooled, like the headline index. Quantity of Purchases, 55.0 in March, fell to a five-month low. Prices Paid, 64.1 in March, rose to about a two-year high.     Revenues, 57.4 in March, and Expected Demand, 50.0 in March, eased to three- and five-month lows, respectively. Working capital shortages were the largest business impediment for a second month in a row, but matched those answering no difficulties. Skilled labor shortages diminished in concert with the rise in the Employment index.     For a complete copy of the report, visit our web site at http://www.ismny.org.    ISM-New York celebrates 100 years - 1913-2013!