Business activity declined modestly in New York State in September, according to firms responding to the Empire State Manufacturing Survey. The headline general business conditions index dropped twenty-one points to -8.7, its first negative reading since June. New orders and shipments fell sharply. Delivery times were steady, and supply availability worsened somewhat. Inventories edged lower for a second consecutive month. Employment held steady, while the average workweek declined modestly. The pace of input price increases was still elevated, though slower than last month, while the pace of selling price increases ... (full story)