· The
February Empire State Index of manufacturing sector activity, reported
by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, fell to a new low for the
series which dates back to 2001. The figure of -34.65 was down from
-22.20 in January and it was lower than Consensus expectations for
a reading of -24.0.
· The figure is a diffusion index. Since the series' inception in 2001 there has been a 68% correlation between its level and the three-month change in U.S. factory sector industrial production.
· The index of pricing pressure improved slightly month-to-month but it too remained near the series' low. Since inception in 2001, there has been a 77% correlation between the index of prices paid and the three-month change in the core intermediate materials PPI.
· The
new orders index fell sharply from January to a new series low of
-30.51. That compares to last February's reading of -10.40. Fifty
percent of survey participants reported lower levels of orders while
only twenty percent reported higher orders.
· The employment index improved just slightly month-to-month but also remained near the series' low. In the history of the NY employment index, there has been an 87% correlation between it and the three-month growth in overall U.S. factory sector employment as reported by the Labor Department.
· Like the Philadelphia Fed Index of General Business Conditions, the Empire State Business Conditions Index reflects answers to an independent survey question; it is not a weighted combination of the components.
· The Empire State index of expected business conditions in six months fell to near the series' low. The subseries for employment collapsed and new orders remained near the series' low. The pricing index moved into negative territory.
· The Empire State
Manufacturing Survey is a monthly survey of manufacturers in New York
State conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Participants
from across the state in a variety of industries respond to a
questionnaire and report the change in a variety of indicators from the
previous month. Respondents also state the likely direction of these
same indicators six months ahead.
· The Empire State data is available in Haver's SURVEYS database.
· Stabilizing the Housing Market: Focus on Communities is yesterday's speech by Federal Reserve Governor Elizabeth A. Duke and it can be found here.