Philadelphia Fed Business Conditions Index Remains Negative, but Losses Moderate

Current readings from the Federal Reserve districts are painting different pictures of factory sector activity. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index for January improved to -3.5 from -10.2 in December, revised from -5.9. Expectations were for -5.5 in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Improvement in the Philadelphia number contrasts with last week's sharp deterioration in the Empire State Factory Sector Index.

The ISM-adjusted general business conditions index constructed by Haver Analytics improved to 49.1 from 46.5, revised from 48.1. It remained below 50 for the fourth straight month, but also suggested a moderating rate of decline in factory sector activity. It is comparable to the ISM Composite Index. During the last ten years, there has been a 71% correlation between the adjusted Philadelphia Fed Index and real GDP growth.

The components of the overall index were mixed. Shipments jumped and were positive for the first time in four months. New orders and unfilled orders remained negative, but declines have eased. Vendor delivery speeds remained negative, continuing to suggest faster delivery speeds, while the inventory figure suggested a faster rate of decumulation. The employment measure slipped into negative territory, suggesting job loss for the first month in the last three. During the last ten years, there has been an 81% correlation between the jobs index and the m/m change in manufacturing payrolls.

On the pricing front, the prices paid index showed deflation for a fifth consecutive month, but deterioration moderated. Seventeen percent of respondents paid higher prices, while 18% paid less. The prices received measure improved m/m, but remained negative.

The future business activity index deteriorated sharply to its lowest level since November 2012. Expected new orders and shipments fell significantly. Employment also deteriorated, along with capital expenditures and prices paid.

The survey panel consists of 150 manufacturing companies in Federal Reserve District III (consisting of southeastern PA, southern NJ and Delaware.) The diffusion indexes represent the percentage of respondents indicating an increase minus the percentage indicating a decrease in activity. The ISM adjusted figure, calculated by Haver Analytics, is the average of five diffusion indexes, new orders, production, employment, supplier deliveries and inventories with equal weights (20% each). Each diffusion index is the sum of the percent responding "higher" and one-half of the percent responding "same."

The figures from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve can be found in Haver's SURVEYS database. The Action Economics figure is available in AS1REPNA.