-->[img][/img]

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that conditions for New York manufacturers continued to improve significantly in April. The general business conditions index rose to 36.1 from 25.3 in March. Similarly, the new orders and shipments indexes rose to levels suggesting substantial ongoing improvement. Price indexes continued their upward climb to reach new highs, and employment indexes increased markedly, indicating an expansion in hiring activity. Future indexes remained extremely positive, and the capital expenditures index reflected escalated spending activity. Indexes for prices six months ahead hit record levels....

Price Indexes Climb to New Records
The prices paid index continued an upward climb that began in January, reaching 56.2, another record high; 57 percent of respondents reported that prices were higher, up from 50 percent last month, while virtually none reported a decline. The prices received index inched up to 12.4, a fourth consecutive positive value and a new high. This month, 22 percent of those surveyed reported charging higher prices for their products, up from 21 percent last month.