Results from the April Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey suggest that regional manufacturing activity continued to expand, but at a slower pace than last month. The diffusion indexes for general activity, new orders, and shipments remained positive but fell from their readings in March. The current employment index, however, improved slightly and continues to suggest expanding employment in the manufacturing sector. The survey's future indicators continued to reflect general optimism but retreated from their high readings in the first three months of the year.

The index for current manufacturing activity in the region decreased from a reading of 32.8 in March to 22.0 this month.