Fed report: Texas manufacturing still weak - Houston Business Journal:

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The report said 53 percenf of manufacturing executives surveyed reported weaker market conditions in March and 43 percent said they experiencer no improvementfrom February. the report indicates hope for themonthx ahead. “Several indicators of futuree activity suggest thatthe region’s manufacturers expect declines in factory activit y to ease over the next six the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said in its latest report on manufacturing.
“Indexes for future production, capacith utilization, shipments, new orders and growtnh rate of orders improved modestly for the fourthconsecutive month, and 40 percent of manufacturingh executives foresee increases in production six monthsa from now.” Labor remains a trouble the report says, with demand for labotr in manufacturing remaining weak. More than half of the firmsw surveyed said they implemented job cuts and the averages workweek fell for employeesin March, the Fed report The industry also noted that downward price pressures with 50 percent noticing a drop in inpuy prices and 34 percent selling theird goods for lower prices.
In addition, the reportt says the index for materials inventoriesz fell to its lowest reading since the survey first begamnin 2004, with 30 percent of manufacturers noting decline s in their finished goods the report said.