Empire State Manufacturing Report Shows Decline

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed manufacturing activity “declined at a modest pace” in New York State, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Thursday as the general business conditions index worsened to negative 8.10 in December from negative 5.22 in November.

Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected the index would slip to negative 1.00.

The new orders index fell to negative 3.70 from positive 3.08, while the shipments index decreased to positive 8.83 from positive 14.59, and unfilled orders climbed to negative 6.45 from negative 11.24, the Fed said.

The delivery time index narrowed to negative 2.15 from negative 1.12, while the inventories index increased to negative 11.83 from negative 12.36 in the prior survey. The prices paid index rose to 16.13 from 14.61, while the prices received index decreased to 1.08 from 5.62. The number of employees index rose to negative 9.68 from negative 14.61, while the average employee workweek index slid to negative 10.75 from negative 7.87, the Fed reported.

Looking six months into the future, the general business conditions index increased to 18.66 from 12.88 last month. The new orders index grew to 32.26 from 21.35, while the shipments index surged to 34.41 from 30.34, and unfilled orders climbed to positive 3.23 from positive 2.25, the Fed said. The delivery time index narrowed to 0.00 from negative 3.37, while the inventories index reversed to negative 3.23 from positive 1.12.

The prices paid index increased to 16.13 from 14.61, while the prices received index fell to 1.08 from 5.62. The number of employees index jumped to negative 9.68 from negative 14.61, while the average employee workweek index dropped to negative 10.75 from negative 7.87, the Fed reported. The capital expenditures expectations index grew to 12.90 from 8.99. The technology spending index slid to 4.30 from 5.62.

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