The Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey continued in contraction. Key elements are also in contraction. Both manufacturing surveys released so far for this month are in contraction.

This is a very noisy index which readers should be reminded is sentiment based. The Philly Fed historically is one of the more negative of all the Fed manufacturing surveys but has been more positive then the others recently.

The index declined from a revised -10.2 to -3.5. Positive numbers indicate market expansion, negative numbers indicate contraction. The market expected (from Bloomberg) -5.0 to 8.0 (consensus 1.2).

Manufacturing conditions in the region contracted modestly this month, according to firms responding to the January Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The indicator for general activity remained negative this month; however, it rebounded from a lower reading in December. Other indicators offered mixed signals: Shipments increased this month, but new orders and employment declined modestly. The survey’s price indexes suggest continued downward pressure on manufacturing prices. With respect to the manufacturers’ forecasts, nearly all the survey’s future indicators showed continued weakening this month while remaining positive.

Most Current Indicators Suggest Weak Activity

The diffusion index for current activity increased from a revised reading of -10.2 in December to -3.5 and has now been negative for five consecutive months. The index for current new orders remained negative but increased 10 points, to -1.4. Firms reported an increase in shipments to begin the new year: The shipments index increased 12 points, its first positive reading in four months. Firms reported continued declines in inventories: The inventories index remained negative and decreased 10 points. Firms’ backlog of unfilled orders also declined this month, and delivery times were shorter, according to the responding firms.

The survey’s labor market indicators suggest weaker employment. The employment index decreased 4 points, from 2.2 to -1.9. Nearly 69 percent of the firms reported no change in employment this month, and the percentage reporting decreases (16 percent) was slightly larger than the percentage reporting increases (14 percent).