New York state manufacturing activity strengthens in September

“New York State manufacturing activity in September grew for the first time in nearly a year, with shipments increasing strongly,” commented New York Fed economic research advisor Richard Deitz.

The majority of the survey’s current indicators improved from August to September. For the first time in months, the new orders index signaled growth. The shipments index surged to a multi-month high, while the inventories index flattened out at zero. The capital spending index eased to its first negative reading since 2020. The full release is available here.

The Empire State Manufacturing Index has only indicated improving business conditions in seven months over the last two years. This time last year, the index registered -19.0, the fourth lowest rate in 2023.

On a three-month moving average basis (3MMA) the index rose to 0.1 through September, now at a ten-month high and the first positive reading of the year (Figure 1). March’s reading of -22.3 was the fourth-lowest 3MMA figure within our 15-year data history, higher only than April, May, and June 2020.

An interactive history of the Empire State Manufacturing Index is available here on our website.