Is this the start of a new trend, or a short-term blip?

Recruiters are calling, and making "extra" visits to IIBA and other meetings.  They say they have more corporate demand for Business Analysts, than they can fill.

Many programming jobs have moved to India and other locations.  Now there are not enough people left to supply the "glue in the middle" - eliciting, finalizing, documenting and managing business requirements, through the design and implementation process.

Some programmers with a "mixed" background (BA and Programmer, not to mention other "Systems Analysis" work) are making the switch:  moving to a job title that is less likely to be cut in the next round of layoffs and outsourcing.