N.Y. State Manufacturing Index Slips

Manufacturing growth in New York state slipped in August, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Wednesday.

The regional Fed’s “Empire State Index,” generally the first economic indicator in a given month, fell to 25.1 from a 26.5 reading in July. Readings above zero indicate expansion.

For a second straight month, the reading was above economists’ forecasts of a drop to an 18 reading, Bloomberg reported.

The survey’s new orders index fell to 22.2 from 26.5, but a six-month outlook gauge rose to 50.4 from 48.2 in July.

Manufacturing is one of trucking’s largest and most important customers.