MW: Feb Empire index above zero, first time since July
By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Empire State manufacturing index moved into positive territory for the first time since July, the New York Federal Reserve Bank said Friday. The index rose to 10.0 in February from a negative 7.8 in the prior month. Economists polled by MarketWatch expected the index to stay in contractionary territory at negative 2.0 in February. Details of the report were mainly positive. The key new orders sub-index jumped to 13.3 from negative 7.2 and shipments also rose sharply. Labor market conditions were mixed. An index of expectations of activity six months ahead rose to its highest level since April.
