Economy
Modest Rise in Empire State Manufacturing Index
Written by Sandy Williams
April 16, 2019
A six point increase to 10.1 in the general business index of the Empire State Manufacturing survey indicated a modest rise in manufacturing activity in April. New York manufacturers reported a slight rise in new orders and shipments. The new orders index rose to 7.5 from 3.0 in March, while the shipments index increased to 8.6 from 7.7.
Input prices and prices received moved lower during the month with the prices paid index falling seven points to 27.3 and the prices received index declining four points to 14.0. Inventories and delivery times both increased.
Optimism waned in April, according to survey results. The future business conditions index fell 17 points to 12.4, its lowest level in three years. Indexes for future new orders and shipments fell 8.5 points and 5.0 points, respectively.
The Empire State Manufacturing Index, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, is the first of the regional Federal Reserve surveys to be released each month. When looked at together, the regional indexes provide insight on the U.S. manufacturing business cycle.
Below is a graph showing the history of the Empire State Manufacturing Index. To use its interactive features, view the graph on our website by clicking here. If you need assistance logging into or navigating the website, please contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Economy
Housing starts slide in August, but interest rate cut should help
Housing starts slowed in the US in August as affordability challenges and cautious builder sentiment weighed on new construction activity.
Second steel derivatives S232 inclusion window opens, business community voices concern
The US Department of Commerce announced that its second window for submitting applications for the inclusion of derivative steel and aluminum products in Section 232 tariffs is now open, according to the US Federal Register. September’s Inclusion Window Sept. 15 through Sept. 29, applicants can email requests for inclusions to the Defense Industrial Base Programs. The first […]
Steel Summit: ITR economist urges execs to prepare for growth, not recession
If the steel industry professionals who made it to the very final presentation of this year’s SMU Steel Summit were expecting another round of cautious forecasting, they were in for a surprise. Because what they got was a wake-up call.
ISM: Manufacturing growth remained down in August
US manufacturing activity remained muted in August despite a marginal gain from July's recent low, according to supply executives contributing to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM)’s latest report.
Steel Summit: Dr. Basu blames tariffs for riskier path ahead
Steel executives packed the main conference hall of the 2025 SMU Steel Summit on Tuesday, Aug. 26, to hear economist Dr. Anirban Basu lay out his blunt view of tariffs, inflation, and demand.