by Calculated Risk on 10/22/2015 12:17:00 PM

From the Kansas City Fed: Tenth District Manufacturing Activity Steadied

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City released the October Manufacturing Survey today. According to Chad Wilkerson, vice president and economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, the survey revealed that Tenth District manufacturing activity steadied somewhat and was expected to remain largely unchanged heading forward.

“Following six months of composite index readings of worse than -6, this month’s reading of -1 was somewhat encouraging,” said Wilkerson. “Modest increases in new orders and production nearly offset declines in employment, supplier delivery time, and inventory indexes.”
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Tenth District manufacturing activity steadied somewhat, and expectations for future activity were largely flat following last month’s more negative reading. Most price indexes edged higher for the first time in several months.

The month-over-month composite index was -1 in October, up from -8 in September and -9 in August ...
emphasis added

The earlier decline in the Kansas City region manufacturing was probably mostly due to lower oil prices, although respondents are also blame weaker exports on the strong dollar.