New York Manufacturing Activity Expands at Faster Pace as Outlook Strengthens
August 24, 2026
Manufacturing activity in New York state expanded at a faster pace in August, with the headline business conditions index rising 5.0 points to 20.6. The new orders index decreased 4.9 points to 17.3, while the shipments index fell 12.7 points to 11.7. Unfilled orders climbed 10.5 points to 15.5, while inventories moved down 9.2 points to -5.2, indicating business inventories shrank in August. Delivery times lengthened, with the index increasing 7.6 points to 20.6, and supply availability worsened, stepping down 3.4 points to -13.4.
Employment increased at a slower pace in August, with the index for the number of employees declining 2.1 points to 9.3. At the same time, the average employee workweek rose to 6.9 from 2.8, signaling a larger increase in hours worked in August. The prices paid index stepped up from 52.3 to 58.6, while the prices received index decreased from 27.6 to 22.7.
In August, firms’ optimism regarding the future strengthened, with the future business activity index increasing 4.2 points to 32.1. In the next six months, new orders are expected to rise at a faster pace compared to the prior month at 37.1. The future employment index climbed 13.8 points to 28.2, suggesting a faster pace of employment growth over the next six months. Meanwhile, input and selling prices are expected to rise at a faster pace, moving from 53.0 to 57.7 and from 41.9 to 48.7, respectively. Furthermore, capital spending plans strengthened in August, increasing from 15.0 to 16.5.
