South By North Strategies, Ltd.

From the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s latest survey of manufacturing activity in the South Atlantic (District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia):

Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region expanded for the sixth straight month, according to the Richmond Fed’s latest survey. Looking at the main components of activity, shipments and new orders grew more slowly, while employment growth held steady. Other indicators varied slightly but suggested continued solid activity. District contacts reported that backlogs grew at a slightly slower pace and that increases in capacity utilization and delivery times eased somewhat, while inventories grew at a somewhat higher rate.
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Looking forward, manufacturers’ optimism remained in place in March. Survey contacts at an increasing number of firms looked for solid growth in shipments, new orders, backlog of orders, capacity utilization, and capital expenditures in the next six months.