Business conditions in the New York metro area improved in June for an eighth monthly advance and reached another new peak. The NAPM-NY business conditions index increased to a reading of 394.5 from 388.6 in May. "Most respondents in the latest survey of activity reported that business remains steady and a few purchasing managers detected signs of improvement," the NAPM-NY reported Friday. "This lifted the overall index of current business conditions, which is in the zone that signals ongoing growth. Survey respondents remain optimistic about the outlook as they generally have been since the summer of 2003." The overall current conditions index rose to a reading of 61.9 in June from 52.9 in May, the eighth reading in a row above 50. A reading above 50 signals an improving economy, while a reading below 50 suggests deterioration.