Manufacturing activity in the region continued to decline overall this month, according to the firms responding to the October Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The survey’s indicators for general activity and new orders remained negative, and the shipments index was little changed at a low but positive reading. The firms continued to report higher employment on balance, and both price indexes indicate overall increases in prices. The survey’s future general activity indexes suggest that the surveyed firms expect declines overall over the next six months. The diffusion index for current general activity edged up ... (full story)