Richmond Fed Manufacturing Survey – Since November 1993, the Richmond Fed has surveyed manufacturing retail and services firms in the Fifth District to obtain information on their current levels of activity and outlook for near-term future activity.

Each month the Manufacturing Survey is sent to over 200 contacts whose firm type, firm size and location collectively match the profile of overall manufacturing in the District. In a typical month, approximately 100 contacts respond to the survey. Respondents provide information on current activity, including shipments, new orders, order backlogs and inventories. In addition, manufacturers inform us about employment conditions, prices and their expectations of business activity for the next six months.

In both surveys, respondents indicate whether measures of activity rose, remained unchanged or decreased. The responses are converted into diffusion indexes by subtracting the percentage of reported decreases from the percentage of increases. Index values greater than zero generally suggest expansion while values less than zero indicate contraction. The summary results of each survey are provided to the public on the second Tuesday of the following month.

The Fifth District includes the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.