12:27 PM EST, 02/20/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Manufacturing activity in the US Mid-Atlantic region slid this month, but remained in expansion territory, a survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia showed Thursday.

The Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey's headline gauge for activity fell to 18.1 in February from a 44.3 reading the month before, according to the regional Fed. A survey compiled by Bloomberg indicated a larger decrease to 14.3.

Around 41% of firms in the Feb. 10-17 survey reported increases in general activity, down from 51% in January, while 23% reported decreases, up from 7%.

The metrics charting new orders declined 21 points sequentially to 21.9. Shipments moved down 15 points to 26.3, according to the survey.

The employment gauge declined seven points to 5.3, offsetting its January increase, but remained in positive territory. The price indexes rose to their highest readings in more than two years, with the gauge for prices paid advancing nine points to 40.5 and the selling prices index growing three points to 32.9.

Six months out, expectations for general activity deteriorated to 27.8 in February from the prior month's 46.3, the Fed branch's report showed. The future new orders and shipment components logged declines of about 24 points each.

Employment expectations slid to 23.7 from 40.4, but firms continue to anticipate overall gains in employment, according to the survey.