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Kansas City Fed Manufacturing activity continued at a solid pace
Growth in Tenth District manufacturing activity continued at a solid pace, and producers remained moderately optimistic about the future. Price indexes were mixed, with further increases in raw materials prices, but finished goods prices were mostly stable.
The net percentage of firms reporting month-over-month increases in production in April was 24, up from 18 in March and 19 in February (Tables 1 & 2, Chart). Production increased at both durable and nondurable-goods-producing plants. Most other month-over-month indicators climbed higher in April. The shipments, new orders, and order backlog indexes all increased, and the employment index recorded its highest level in over two years. Meanwhile, the new orders for exports index edged up for the second straight month. The raw materials inventory index fell from -3 to -7, and the finished goods inventory index eased from -7 to -9.
Posted: April 29, 2010 Thursday 11:00 AM