pre_text: * Recast to reflect segment changes. The year-to-year improvements in margins and pre-tax income in GBS were the result of the shift to higher-value offerings, realignment of resources to key skill areas, increased productivity and utilization as well as a benefit from currency, due to the company’s global delivery model.
table: ($ in millions)
table: For the year ended December 31: 2018* 2017* Yr.-to-Yr. Percent/ Margin Change
table: Global Business Services
table: External gross profit $4,448 $4,033 10.3%
table: External gross profit margin 26.8% 25.1% 1.7pts
table: Pre-tax income $1,629 $1,303 25.0%
table: Pre-tax margin 9.6% 7.9% 1.7pts
question: Analyse this data from a financial earnings document. What is the increase / (decrease) in the external gross profit from 2017 to 2018?