Manufacturing in Philly area shrinks for 4th month

(AP) Manufacturing in the Philadelphia region shrank for the fourth straight month in August, adding to worries that factory output nationwide could slow.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia says its index of regional manufacturing activity had a reading of -7.1 in August. That's only slightly better than July, when it read -12.9. Any reading below zero indicates contraction.

The report comes after the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Wednesday that manufacturing in that region also shrank. The two declines suggest that factory output nationwide, which rose in July, could fall in August.

In the Philly Fed report, a measure of new orders improved slightly, though still showed contraction. And an index of hiring dipped, suggesting that companies are cutting jobs this month.