N.Y. manufacturing activity grew for the first time in 5 months

Improvements in orders and shipments were among the factors as the general business-conditions index of the monthly Empire State Manufacturing Survey jumped 35 points in April to 10.8.

The general business-conditions index is the monthly gauge of New York’s manufacturing industry. The index had fallen 19 points in March to -24.6.

The April reading — based on firms responding to the survey — indicates business activity “increased in New York State for the first time in five months,” the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in its April 17 report. 

A positive index number indicates expansion or growth in manufacturing activity, while a negative reading points to a decline in the sector. 

The survey found that 35 percent of respondents reported that conditions had improved over the month, while 24 percent said that conditions had worsened, the New York Fed said.

Survey details

The new-orders index rose 47 points to 25.1, and the shipments index climbed 37 points to 23.9, indicating that both orders and shipments increased “substantially” after declining in recent months. 

The unfilled-orders index rose to 0, a sign that unfilled orders were unchanged. The delivery-times index also came in at 0, indicating that delivery times held steady. 

The inventories index moved up 10 points to 8.2, suggesting that inventories grew modestly.

The index for number of employees remained negative for a third straight month at -8.0, and the average-workweek index stayed in negative territory at -6.4, indicating that employment and hours worked contracted. 

The prices-paid index fell 9 points to 33.0, indicating that input-price increases moderated. The prices-received index held steady at 23.7, suggesting the pace of selling price increases was little changed.

The index for future business conditions edged up to 6.6, suggesting that firms do not expect activity to improve much over the next six months. New orders and shipments are expected to increase modestly, and employment is expected to grow. 

The capital-spending index rose 3 points to 16.5, and the technology-spending index came in at 10.3.

The New York Fed distributes the Empire State Manufacturing Survey on the first day of each month to the same pool of about 200 manufacturing executives in New York. On average, about 100 executives return responses.