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Business confidence index posts best reading in 20 months

This graphic was included with AIM’s press release.

A monthly business confidence index that seeks to gauge the mood of Massachusetts employers posted an April reading that was the best reading in more than a year and a half, a sign perhaps that local employers are finally starting to believe that an economic recovery is gaining momentum.

On the index’s 100 point scale, April clocked in with a 53 reading, up from a 51.1 reading in March and up from a 50.5 reading in April 2013.

The index is compiled by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, or AIM, an association of the state’s employers.

“The last time the index was at or above this level was in August 2012, just before the impending ‘fiscal cliff’ crippled confidence in fiscal policy leadership,” Raymond G. Torto, the chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors, said in a statement.

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The Massachusetts economy grew at a good clip in the first three months of the year, even as economic growth nationally nearly ground to halt, according to state and federal economic reports.

Chris Reidy

Chris Reidy can be reached at reidy@globe.com.