Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s region slowed in August, and producers were somewhat less optimistic than in previous months. Price indexes in the survey were mostly unchanged, according to the bank’s monthly manufacturing survey released on Thursday.
The production index slumped to zero in August from 14 in July and the volume of shipments fell to negative 6 from positive 12.
New orders dropped to negative 13 from positive 9, and the backlog of orders index declined to negative 16 from negative 2. New export orders slid to negative 1 from zero while supplier delivery time rose to 3 from zero.
The number of employees index reversed to negative 2 from positive 5, while the average employee workweek gauge slipped to negative 6 from positive 1.
The prices received for finished products index climbed to negative 4 from negative 9 and prices paid for raw materials remained at 14.
In projections for six months from now, the production index fell to 10 from 23. The future shipments index decreased to 9 from 22, while new orders slid to 16 from 23, and the backlog of orders index decreased to 4 from 11.
The new orders for exports index rose to 7 from 5 and the supplier delivery time index dipped to 6 from 8.
The number of employees index rose to 2 from 1, while the average employee workweek index slipped to negative 2 from 0. The prices received for finished product index dipped to 7 from 9, and prices paid for raw materials climbed to 30 from 26.
The capital expenditures index was at negative 4, off from negative 3 the previous month.
