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Manufacturing Survey

An Important Message

The release time for the Manufacturing Survey has been updated to occur between 10:00 and 10:10.

Fifth District manufacturing activity was slow in October, according to the most recent survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The composite manufacturing index rose to −4 in October from −17 in September. All three of its component indexes increased. The shipments index increased notably to 4 from −20, new orders rose to -6 from -15, and employment rose to −10 from −15.

The local business conditions index rose to −1 in October. Meanwhile, the index for future local business conditions decreased to −5 from −1. The future index for shipments increased to 13 from 0 and the future index for new orders rose to 12 from 8. The future index for employment was nearly unchanged at 2.

The vendor lead time index decreased slightly to 6 in October, while the backlog of orders index rose to −16 from −21.

The average growth rates of prices paid and prices received decreased notably in October. Firms expected growth in prices paid to moderate further and expected growth in prices received to increase over the next 12 months.


To cite the Manufacturing Survey, please use the following format: "Manufacturing Survey." Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. https://www.richmondfed.org/region_communities/regional_data_analysis/business_surveys/manufacturing.


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