Published April 23, 2015 9:57am EDT | Updated May 21, 2015 1:31pm EDT

U.S. Markit Flash PMI Falls To 54.2 In April

The flash reading of the Markit manufacturing purchasing managers index fell in April to 54.2 from 55.7 in March. Survey respondents generally cited soft international markets for the decline. The flash estimate is typically based on approximately 85%-90% of total PMI survey responses each month, and any reading above 50 indicates improving conditions.