According to the Federal Reserve Bank of NY’s monthly Empire State Manufacturing Survey, statewide manufacturing activity was little changed from last month. The index registered -9.1, a decrease of -7.6 points from last month, indicating that manufacturing activity was down slightly again this month (a reading below 0.0 is consistent with contraction). The index has been gyrating between positive and negative since declining significantly at the end of last year. Prices Paid inched up after declining for the last few months with most other measures falling between 10.0 and -10.0. Respondents expect little improvement over the next six months based on the future conditions index of -1.8 down -10.0 points from last month. See the full report here.
