Hanover Advisors : Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey

The factory sector continues to slow this month though, in good news, the rate of contraction is flattening out. The Philly Fed's general business conditions index for January is minus 3.5, a little better than the consensus for minus 4.0 and the best reading since all the back in August. The new orders index likewise is improving, at minus 1.4 for the best reading since September. And shipments, for the first time also since September, are positive, at a strong 9.6.
But most readings in this report are in the negative column including employment, unfilled orders, the workweek, and also inventories where destocking is becoming more aggressive. And judging by the six-month outlook, down 5 points to 19.1 for the softest level since 2012, the destocking is defensive and intentional.
Price data are also negative but less so than prior months. And this is the clear theme from this report, that the factory sector may be beginning to level out following a very flat 2015 that was held down by weak global demand and weak energy markets.