Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index
Released On 2/27/2014 11:00:00 AM For Feb, 2014
Prior Consensus Consensus Range Actual
Level 5 2 0 to 7 4
Highlights
Growth in Tenth District manufacturing activity was slightly positive in February, and although producers' expectations moderated somewhat they remained at solid levels overall. Several contacts continued to cite delays and slowdowns caused by severe winter weather issues. Price indexes were mostly stable or slightly lower.
The month-over-month composite index was 4 in February, similar to the reading of 5 in January and up from -3 in December. The composite index is an average of the production, new orders, employment, supplier delivery time, and raw materials inventory indexes. Manufacturing activity declined at non-durable goods-producing plants, particularly food and beverage, while production of durable goods products increased slightly. Other month-over-month indexes were mixed. The production index jumped from minus 8 to plus 3, and the shipments index also climbed higher. The order backlog and employment indexes decreased slightly, while the new orders index was unchanged. The raw materials inventory index increased for the second straight month, while the finished goods inventory index remained flat.
Future factory indexes eased slightly from the historical highs reached in January but remained solid overall. The future composite index decreased from 26 to 11, and the future production, shipments, and new orders indexes also fell. The future employment index dropped from 29 to 6, and the future order backlog index edged lower. The future capital expenditures index eased from 26 to 24, and the future new orders for exports index moderated slightly. The future raw materials inventory index moved into negative territory, while the future finished good inventory index posted a positive number for the first time in five months.
Price indexes were mostly down or relatively stable in February.
