The April data from the latest Ulster Bank Purchasing Managers' Index Report for Northern Ireland has shown further growth of private sector economic output at the start of the second quarter.
Business activity and incoming new business both rose, with the rates of growth hardening slightly from the lows of a month earlier.
The latest survey also showed a return to growth of employment, while volumes of outstanding work were unchanged following three successive months of contraction.
The Report was produced for Ulster Bank by NTC Research.