The latest report by IHS Markit revealed on Monday the seasonally adjusted IHS Markit final U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 50.5 in April, down from 52.6 in April and the “flash” figure of 50.6.

The latest headline figure signaled only a slight improvement in operating conditions, with the latest reading the lowest since September 2009.

Economists had forecast the index to stay unrevised at 50.6.

According to the report, output growth weakened and new orders declined for the first time since August 2009. At the same time, employment increased at the slowest rate since March 2017 and backlogs of work were unchanged. On a price front, inflationary pressures eased further, with both input costs and output prices increasing at softer rates.