Fifth District manufacturing activity slowed in August, according to the most recent survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The composite manufacturing index is at -8 in August compared to 0 in July.

The complete data series behind today's Richmond Fed manufacturing report, which dates from November 1993, is available here.

Here is a snapshot of the complete Richmond Fed Manufacturing Composite series.

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Here is an excerpt from the latest Richmond Fed manufacturing overview:

Many Fifth District manufacturing firms reported slowdowns in August, according to the most recent survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The composite manufacturing index fell from 0 in July to −8 in August, almost matching the June reading of −9. Two of its three component indexes tumbled: the indexes for shipments and volume of new orders slid from 7 and −10 in July to −8 and −20 in August, respectively. The third component, the employment index, rose to 11 from 8 in July. Link to Report

Here is a somewhat closer look at the index since the turn of the century.

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Is today's Richmond composite a clue of what to expect in the next PMI composite? We'll find out when the next ISM Manufacturing survey is released (below).

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Let's compare all five Regional Manufacturing indicators. Here is a three-month moving average overlay of each since 2001 (for those with data).

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Here is the same chart including the average of the five.

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