Gate News reports that on April 6th, the U.S. Institute for Supply Management (ISM) released its March services sector data. The ISM Services Price Index rose to 70.7, the highest level since October 2022, up 7.7 points from the previous month, marking the largest increase in nearly 14 years. The ISM Services Index decreased by 2.1 points to 54, mainly due to weak employment and slowing business activity growth. The services employment index fell by 6.6 points to 45.2, one of the largest monthly declines since the COVID-19 pandemic. The business activity index dropped by 6 points to 53.9, the largest decline since mid-2024. The supplier delivery index rose to its highest level since October 2024. New order growth was the strongest in over three years. Due to the Iran conflict, energy and other input costs have surged significantly, putting pressure on businesses.