by Calculated Risk on 6/25/2018 03:33:00 PM

From the Dallas Fed: Texas Manufacturing Continues to Expand, Outlook Improves

The expansion in Texas factory activity continued in June, albeit at a slower pace than in May, according to business executives responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, declined 12 points to 23.3, signaling a deceleration in output growth.

Some other indexes of manufacturing activity also indicated slower growth in June. The capacity utilization and shipments indexes posted double-digit declines, falling to 21.7 and 25.5, respectively. However, demand improved further in June as the new orders index edged up to 29.6, its highest level this year.

Perceptions of broader business conditions were even more positive in June than in May. The general business activity index rose 10 points to 36.5, and the company outlook index rose five points to 33.2, its highest reading since 2006.

Labor market measures suggested robust growth in employment and longer work hours in June. The employment index stayed near last month’s six-year high at 23.9. Thirty-one percent of firms noted net hiring, compared with 7 percent noting net layoffs. The hours worked index remained highly positive but edged down to 20.2.
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