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 advanced somewhat faster in January after firming somewhat in December, according to the Richmond Fed’s latest survey. All broad indicators — shipments, new orders and employment — landed in positive territory, with manufacturers noting their first increase in worker numbers since September 2011. Most other indicators were also positive, including capacity utilization. Only backlogs inched lower. Delivery times were virtually unchanged, while finished goods inventories grew at a slower rate.
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Looking forward, assessments of business prospects for the next six months were more optimistic in January. Contacts at more firms anticipated that shipments, new orders, backlogs, capacity utilization, and capital expenditures would grow more quickly during the next six months.