by Calculated Risk on 8/18/2011 11:36:00 AM

Earlier from the Philly Fed: August 2011 Business Outlook Survey

The survey’s broadest measure of manufacturing conditions, the diffusion index of current activity, decreased from a slightly positive reading of 3.2 in July to -30.7 in August. The index is now at its lowest level since March 2009 [any reading below zero is contraction]. The demand for manufactured goods, as measured by the current new orders index, paralleled the decline in the general activity index, falling 27 points. The current shipments index fell 18 points and recorded its first negative reading since September of last year. Suggesting weakening activity, indexes for inventories, unfilled orders, and delivery times were all in negative territory this month.
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Firms’ responses suggest a deterioration in the labor market compared with July. The current employment index fell 14 points, recording its first negative reading in 12 months. About 18 percent of the firms reported an increase in employment, but 23 percent reported a decrease. ...

Diffusion indexes for prices paid and prices received were lower this month and suggest a continued trend of moderating price pressures.

This indicates contraction in August and was well below the consensus of 4.0.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

Here is a graph comparing the regional Fed surveys and the ISM manufacturing index. The dashed green line is an average of the NY Fed (Empire State) and Philly Fed surveys through August. The ISM and total Fed surveys are through July.

The averaged Empire State and Philly Fed surveys are well below zero suggesting a further decline in the ISM index.

Earlier:
• Existing Home Sales in July: 4.67 million SAAR, 9.4 months of supply
• Existing Home Sales graphs