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Philadelphia Fed Outlook Reported Activity growth broadens in September
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Manufacturing firms reported an improvement in regional manufacturing conditions in September. The survey’s current indicators for general activity, new orders, and shipments increased this month and suggest a broadening of growth. Price pressures also picked up, according to the reporting firms. The survey’s future indicators suggest that manufacturers have generally grown more optimistic over the past three months.
Most Current Indicators Improved This Month
The index for current manufacturing activity in the region increased 5 points to a reading of 23.8 and has remained positive for 14 consecutive months (see Chart 1). Nearly 39 percent of the firms indicated increases in activity this month; 15 percent reported a decrease in activity. The new orders and shipments indexes also registered an improvement, increasing 9 points and 8 points, respectively. Both the unfilled orders and delivery times indexes were positive for the 11th consecutive month, suggesting longer delivery times and an increase in unfilled orders.
Firms reported, on balance, an increase in manufacturing employment this month. The percentage of firms reporting an increase in employment (18 percent) exceeded the percentage reporting a decrease (12 percent). The current employment index fell 4 points but has remained positive for 10 consecutive months.
Survey Price Measures Rise This Month
Price increases were more widespread this month. On the cost side, nearly 38 percent of the firms reported increases in the prices paid for inputs this month, up from 24 percent in August. The prices paid index increased 13 points to its highest reading since March (see Chart 2). With respect to prices received for firms’ own manufactured goods, nearly 25 percent of the firms reported higher prices, up from 16 percent in August. The prices received index increased 9 points to its highest reading since January.
Six-Month Indexes Show Continued Improvement
The diffusion index for future general activity increased from 42.3 in August to 55.2 this month. The index has now increased for three consecutive months and is at its highest reading since March (see Chart 1). The indexes for future new orders and shipments also showed improvement, increasing 8 points and 12 points, respectively. Firms remained optimistic about increases in employment over the next six months, although the future employment diffusion index fell 3 points. Thirty-six percent of the firms expect increases in employment; only 6 percent expect decreases. The future capital spending index remained at a relatively high reading, with nearly 44 percent of the firms expecting capital spending increases over the next six months.
Most Firms Expect Increased Production for Rest of the Year
In this month’s special questions, firms were asked to estimate their total production growth for the third quarter ending this month along with expected growth for the fourth quarter. The share of firms reporting increases in third-quarter production (66 percent) was greater than the share reporting decreases (23 percent). Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, 55 percent of the firms expect acceleration in the rate of production, while 24 percent of the firms expect deceleration. For those firms expecting an increase in production, 31 percent of the firms expect to hire additional workers. The remaining firms indicated that they would increase the work hours of current workers (36 percent) or increase the productivity of current workers (25 percent) rather than increasing the number of workers.
Summary
Responses to the September Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey suggest continued growth for the region’s manufacturing sector. The indexes for general activity, new orders, and shipments increased this month, and employment remained positive. Firms also reported renewed price pressures this month. Firms forecast an acceleration of production growth for the upcoming fourth quarter, and firms’ overall forecast for the next six months showed further improvement.
Posted: September 21, 2017 Thursday 08:30 AM