Good News for Texas Manufacturing: It’s Still Growing

Texas manufacturing and factory activity continued expanding in January 2018. At least, that is the word from business executives who responded to the Federal Reserve of Dallas’ Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey. The production index, which stood at 16.8 after surging to an 11-year high in December 2017, was still elevated, according to Fed analysts.

The shipments index increased by six points to 27.1, which indicated a pickup in growth. While other measures of manufacturing activity – such as the new-orders index, and growth rates of orders index – fell from the December’s expansion, the perception of broader business conditions was highly positive in January. Basically, the general business activity index stood at 33.4, which was its highest reading in more than 12 years.

Finally, the index of future general business activity stood at 44.5, its highest level since December 2005. The future company outlook index was also high, at 43.2.

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