N.Y. Manufacturing Index Expands For First Time Since May

Manufacturing activity in the New York region expanded in November for the first time in six months, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Tuesday.

The regional Fed’s “Empire State Index,” generally the first economic indicator in a given month, improved to a reading of 0.6, the first positive reading since May, from minus 8.5 in October.

Readings above zero indicate expansion, while below that show contraction.

Economists had projected that the index would improve to minus 2, Bloomberg reported.

The Empire State index also covers northern New Jersey and Southern Connecticut. Manufacturing is one of trucking’s largest and most important customers.