NEW YORK - Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s region “continued at a solid pace, and producers remained moderately optimistic about the future,” according to the bank’s monthly manufacturing survey, released today.
“Price indexes were mixed, with further increases in raw materials prices, but finished goods prices were mostly stable,” the survey reported.
The production index jumped to 24 in April from 18 in March, while the volume of shipments index rose to 27 from 17, and the volume of new orders index climbed to 15 from 12, and backlog of orders index improved to 11 from 7. The new orders for exports index gained to 5 from 4, and the supplier delivery time index slid to 10 from 11.
The number of employees index increased to 5 from 3, while the average employee workweek index rose to 6 from 1. The prices received for finished product index held at 5, while the prices paid for raw materials index rose to 53 from 42.
As for the inventories indexes, materials slipped to negative 7 from positive 3, while the finished goods fell to negative 9 from negative 7.
In comparison to the same month a year ago, the production index reversed to positive 14 from negative 1. The shipments index improved to positive 15 from negative 5, while new orders reversed to positive 19 from negative 3, and the backlog of orders index gained to negative 3 from negative 13. The new orders for exports index grew to 7 from 2, and the supplier delivery time index dipped to 8 from 10.
The number of employees index rose to negative 18 from negative 31, while the average employee workweek index improved to negative 1 from negative 10. The prices received for finished product index remained at 7, and the prices paid for raw materials crept to 58 from 55. The capital expenditures index was at negative 5, up from negative 8 the prior month.
As for the inventories indexes, materials increased to negative 12 from negative 17, while the finished goods index gained to negative 9 from negative 11.
In projections for six months from now, the production index slipped to 22 from 33. The shipments index fell to 21 from 36, while new orders inched up to 28 from 27, and the backlog of orders index dropped to 9 from 16. The new orders for exports index climbed to 11 from 5, and the supplier delivery time index increased to 15 from 9.
The number of employees index decreased to 18 from 20, while the average employee workweek index slipped to 4 from 10. The prices received for finished product index decreased to 17 from 19, and the prices paid for raw materials grew to 61 from 55. The capital expenditures index was at 11, up from 5 the prior month.
As for the inventories indexes, materials decreased to 3 from 4, while the finished goods index rose to zero from negative 4.
The Tenth Federal Reserve District includes Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, northern New Mexico and western Missouri.
