Manufacturing activity in the region was mixed this month, according to the firms responding to the October Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The survey’s indicator for general activity remained negative, while the indicators for new orders and shipments were positive but low. The employment index turned positive, and both price indexes indicate overall increases in prices. The firms continue to expect growth overall over the next six months, but most future indicators declined. The diffusion index for current general activity increased 5 points but remained negative at ‑9.0 this month (see Chart 1). This is the ... (full story)