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Richmond Fed's Current Activity fell 10 to 10
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Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region expanded in April for the seventh straight month but at a more temperate pace than a month ago, according to the Richmond Fed's latest survey. All broad indicators — including shipments, new orders and employment — continued to grow but at a rate below March's pace. Other indicators were mixed. Fifth District contacts reported that capacity utilization continued to grow more slowly, while backlogs turned slightly negative. Vendor delivery times edged higher and raw materials inventories grew at a somewhat higher rate.
In spite of the recent moderation in activity, assessments for business activity remained generally positive since our last report. Survey contacts at an increasing number of firms looked for solid growth in shipments, new orders, capacity utilization and capital expenditures over the next six months.
Survey measures of current prices revealed that prices of raw materials grew at a slightly higher rate and finished goods grew at a slightly slower pace in April. Respondents indicated that during the next six months they expected growth in raw materials prices to slow somewhat, but expected finished goods prices to quicken from what they had anticipated last month.
In April, the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — fell ten points to 10 from March's reading of 20. Among the index's components, shipments decreased seventeen points to 6, new orders dropped ten points to finish at 10, and the jobs index eased two points to 14.
Other indicators varied. The index for capacity utilization moved down twelve points to 2, and the backlogs of orders turned negative, losing nine points to −1. The delivery times index edged up two points to end at 18, while our gauges for inventories were mixed in April. The finished goods inventory index trimmed four points in April to end at 10, while the raw materials inventories index added nine points to 18.
Posted: April 26, 2011 Tuesday 10:00 AM