In August, the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — declined five points to 11 from July's reading of 16. Among the index's components, shipments declined 11 points to 11, new orders slipped three points to finish at 10, and the jobs index eased three points to 12.

Other indicators varied. The backlogs of orders measure flattened, and the index for capacity utilization was virtually unchanged at 14. The delivery times index picked up four points to end at 8. Our gauges for inventories were mixed in August. The finished goods inventory index edged up three points to 11, and the raw materials inventory index trimmed two points to finish at 9.

In July, the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — declined seven points to 16 from June's reading of 23. Among the index's components, shipments lost nine points to 22, new orders dropped 12 points to finish at 13, while the jobs index moved up six points to 15.

Other indicators also suggested somewhat slower activity. The backlog of orders measure moved down two points to 1, and the index for capacity utilization fell eight points to 13. The delivery times index retreated 13 points to end at 4. Our gauges for inventories were somewhat higher in July. The finished goods inventory index edged up one point to 8, and the raw materials inventory index moved up seven points to finish at 11.

In June, the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — declined three points to 23 from May's reading of 26. Among the index's components, shipments eased one point to 31, new orders dropped 11 points to finish at 25, while the jobs index picked up five points to 9.

Other indicators were also mixed. The backlog of orders measure moved down 13 points to 3, and the index for capacity utilization fell six points to 21. The delivery times index recouped three points to end at 17.

Our gauges for inventories were slightly lower in June. The finished goods inventory index fell two points to 7, and the raw materials inventory index slipped two points to finish at 4.

In May, the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — declined four points to 26 from April's reading of 30. Among the index's components, shipments edged up two points to 32, new orders inched down five points to finish at 36, and the jobs index dropped nine points to end at 4.

Other indicators also varied. The backlog of orders measure picked up 11 points to 16, and the index for capacity utilization held steady at 27. The delivery time's index eased three points to end at 14. Our gauges for inventories were slightly lower in May. The finished goods inventory index fell four points to 9, and the raw materials inventory index slipped three points to finish at 6.

In April the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — jumped 24 points to 30 from March's reading of 6. Among the index's components, shipments moved up 25 points to 30, new orders leaped 31 points to finish at 41, and the jobs index advanced 13 points to end at 13.

Other indicators also suggest stronger activity. The backlog of orders measure turned positive, picking up 12 points to 5, and the index for capacity utilization increased 24 points to 27. The delivery times index added nine points to end at 17. Our gauges for inventories were slightly higher in April. The finished goods inventory index rose seven points to 13, and the raw materials inventory index edged up two points to finish at 9.

In March the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — inched up four points to 6 from February's reading of 2. Among the index's components, shipments picked up five points to 5, new orders edged up one point to finish at 10, and the jobs index advanced seven points to end at 0.

Other indicators also varied. The backlog of orders measure lost seven points to −7, while the index for capacity utilization increased six points to 3. The delivery times index added six points to end at 8. Our gauges for inventories were mixed in March. The finished goods inventory index dropped seven points to 6, while the raw materials inventory index rose two points to finish at 7.

In February, the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — turned positive, moving up to 2 from January's reading of −2. Among the index's components, shipments picked up two points to 0, and new orders gained eight points to finish at 9. However, the jobs index slipped two points to end at −7.

Other indicators also varied. The backlog of orders measure jumped 13 points to 0, while the index for capacity utilization held steady at −3. The delivery times index dropped three points to end at 2. Our gauges for inventories were mixed in February. The finished goods inventory index picked up three points to 13 and the raw materials inventory index slipped back four points to finish at 5.

In January, the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — improved slightly, moving up to −2 from December's reading of −4. Among the index's components, shipments picked up four points to −2, and new orders turned positive, gaining five points to finish at 1. However, the jobs index eased three points to end at −5.

Other indicators also varied. The capacity utilization and backlog measures were on par with last month's readings at −3 and −13, respectively, and the delivery times index advanced seven points to end at 5. Our gauges for inventories were slightly lower in January. The finished goods inventory index shed four points to slip back to 10 and the raw materials inventory index trimmed two points to finish at 9.

In December, the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — moved down to −4 from November's reading of 1. Among the index's components, shipments dropped 12 points to −6, and new orders lost seven points to finish at −4. However, the jobs index gained seven points to end at −2.

Other indicators also suggested weaker activity. The capacity utilization measure turned negative, losing five points to −3, while the orders backlogs remained unchanged at −12, and the delivery times was virtually unchanged at −2. Our gauges for inventories were slightly higher in December. The finished goods inventory index added two points to 14 and the raw materials inventory index advanced one point to finish at 11.

In November, the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — moved down to 1 from October's reading of 7. Among the index's components, shipments dropped five points to 6, new orders lost four points to finish at 3, and the jobs index fell 11 points to end at −9.

Other indicators were mostly in line with recent readings. The capacity utilization measure edged down two points to 2 and the orders backlogs index eased one point to −12, while the delivery times index was virtually unchanged at −1. Our gauges for inventories were somewhat lower in November. The finished goods and raw materials inventory indexes each trimmed two points to finish at 12 and 10, respectively.

In October, the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — moved down to 7 from September's reading of 14. Among the index's components, shipments dropped 11 points to 11, new orders lost six points to finish at 7, and the jobs index eased three points to end at 2.

Other indicators varied. The capacity utilization measure declined 12 points to 4, and the orders backlogs fell six points to −11, while the delivery times was virtually unchanged at −2. Our gauges for inventories were mixed in October. The finished goods inventory index trimmed four points to 14, while the raw materials inventory index held steady at 12.

In September, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index — our broadest measure of manufacturing activity — was unchanged from August's reading of 14. Among the index's components, shipments edged up one point to 22, new orders lost five points to finish at 13, and the jobs index picked up five points to end at 5.

Other indicators varied. The capacity utilization measure moved down six points to 16, and the orders backlogs and delivery times indexes turned negative, losing nine and five points, respectively, to end at −5 and −3. Our gauges for inventories grew more slowly in September. The finished goods inventory index trimmed four points to 18, while the raw materials inventory index dropped six points to 12.

In August, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index—our broadest measure of manufacturing activity—was unchanged from July's reading of 14. Among the index's components, shipments rose five points to 21, new orders fell six points to finish at 18, and the jobs index picked up five points to end at 0.

Other indicators also suggested solid growth. The capacity utilization measure moved up eight points to 22, while the orders backlogs and delivery times indexes matched last months' reading of 4 and 2, respectively. Our gauges for inventories were mixed in August. The finished goods inventory index trimmed four points to 22, while the raw materials inventory index jumped ten points to 18

In July, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index — our broadest measure of manufacturing activity — jumped to 14 from June's reading of 6. Among the index's components, shipments leaped 14 points to 16, new orders rose eight points to finish at 24, and the jobs index edged up one point to end at −5.

Other indicators also suggested mostly stronger activity. The orders backlogs index eased four points to 4, while the measure for delivery times edged up two points to 2. The capacity utilization index doubled, adding seven points to 14, while our gauges for inventories grew at a considerably slower pace. The finished goods inventory index retreated 14 points to 26, and the raw materials inventory index moved down 10 points to 8.

In June, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index — our broadest measure of manufacturing activity — jumped to 6 from May's reading of 4. Among the index's components, shipments lost seven points to 2, new orders rose six points to finish at 16, and the jobs index advanced six points to end at −6.

Other indicators also suggested somewhat stronger activity. The orders backlogs index turned positive, gaining 11 points to 8, while the measure for delivery times picked up four points to 0. The capacity utilization index edged higher, adding two points to 7, while our gauges for inventories were mixed. The finished goods inventory index moved up five points to 40, but the raw materials inventory index trimmed three points to 18.

In May, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index — our broadest measure of manufacturing activity — jumped to 4 from April's reading of −9. Among the index's components, shipments gained twelve points to 9, new orders rose twelve points to finish at 10, and the jobs index advanced fourteen points to end at −12.

Other indicators varied. The orders backlogs and vendor delivery times did not quite escape negative territory but gained twelve and five points, respectively. The capacity utilization index turned positive, picking up eighteen points to 5, while our gauges for inventories grew at a slightly slower pace in May than they did in April. The finished goods inventory index dropped five points to 35, and the raw materials inventory index trimmed six points to 21.

In April, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index — our broadest measure of manufacturing activity — contracted at a less pronounced rate to -9 from March's reading of -20. Among the index's components, shipments gained twelve points to -3, new orders rose eighteen points to finish at -2, and the jobs index edged up two points to end at -26.

Other indicators also suggested more moderate weakness. The orders backlogs measure jumped twenty-two points to -15 and vendor delivery times inched up seven points to end at -9. Moreover, the capacity utilization index held almost steady at -13, while our gauges for inventories grew at a slightly slower pace in April than they did in March. The finished goods inventory index dropped four points to 40, and the raw materials inventory index trimmed six points to 27.

In March, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index — our broadest measure of manufacturing activity — remained negative, although it improved to -20 from February's reading of -51. Among the index's components, shipments jumped forty-one points to -15, new orders rose thirty-four points to finish at -20, and the jobs index picked up thirteen points to end at -28.

Other indicators also suggested more moderate weakness. The orders backlogs measure increased fourteen points to -37 and vendor delivery times inched up six points to end at -16. Moreover, the capacity utilization index leaped thirty points to -14, while our gauges for inventories were mixed in March. The finished goods inventory index advanced four points to 44, while the raw materials inventory index was virtually unchanged at 33.

In February, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index — our broadest measure of manufacturing activity — decreased to -51 from January's reading of -49. Among the index's components, shipments slipped two points to -56, new orders inched down four points to finish at -54, and the jobs index was virtually unchanged at -41.

Other indicators also suggested further weakening. The orders backlogs measure decreased ten points to -51 and vendor delivery times lost eight points to end at -22. Moreover, the capacity utilization index edged up two points to -44, while our gauges for inventories changed little in February. The finished goods inventory index trimmed two points to 40, while the raw materials inventory index advanced two points to finish at 34.

In January, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index — our broadest measure of manufacturing activity — remained negative, although it improved to -49 from December's reading of -55. Among the index's components, shipments was virtually unchanged at -54, new orders picked up sixteen points to finish at -50, and the jobs index held steady at -40.

Other indicators also suggested a slight improvement in activity although conditions in the sector remained bleak. The capacity utilization index inched up four points to -46 and the orders backlogs measure increased eighteen points to -41. Furthermore, vendor delivery times were unchanged at -14. Meanwhile, our gauges for inventories grew at a slightly quicker pace in January from December; the finished goods inventory index added ten points to 42, and the raw materials inventory index edged up two points to finish at 32.

In December, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index — our broadest measure of manufacturing activity — decreased to -55 from November's reading of -38. Among the index's components, shipments plummeted twenty-four points to -55, new orders fell eighteen points to -66, and the jobs index pulled back eight points to finish at -40.

Other indicators also suggested weaker activity. The capacity utilization index dropped sixteen points to -50 and the orders backlogs index declined fourteen points to -59. Furthermore, vendor delivery times shed five points to -14. Meanwhile, our gauges for inventories changed little in December from November; the finished goods inventory index edged down three points to 32, while the raw materials inventory index added two points to finish at 30.

In November, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index — our broadest measure of manufacturing activity — decreased to -38 from October's reading of -26. Among the index's components, shipments lost seven points to -31, new orders fell thirteen points to -48, and the jobs index plummeted seventeen points to finish at -32.

Other indicators also suggested weaker activity. The capacity utilization index declined seven points to -34 and the orders backlogs shed five points to -45. Furthermore, vendor delivery times held steady at -9, while our gauges for inventories changed little in November from October. The finished goods inventory index edged up two points to 35, while the raw materials inventory index added one point to finish at 28.

In October, the seasonally adjusted manufacturing index — our broadest measure of manufacturing activity — decreased to -26 from September's reading of -18. Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region contracted more sharply in October, according to the Richmond Fed's latest survey. The index of overall activity was pushed lower as shipments, new orders, and employment retreated further into negative territory. All other indicators suggested additional weakness. District contacts reported that orders backlogs and capacity utilization remained in negative territory and declined from their previous month's readings. Moreover, vendor delivery times turned negative, while inventories grew at a slightly quicker pace.

Looking forward, assessments of business prospects for the next six months were less optimistic in October. Contacts at firms anticipated slower growth in shipments, and negative growth in backlogs, capital expenditures and employment.

Survey assessments of prices were mixed in October. Raw materials prices grew at a slightly slower pace, while finished goods prices grew at a somewhat quicker pace. Looking ahead, respondents indicated that they expected price growth to advance a bit more quickly over the next six months.