Philly Fed: Factories Slowed in November(not a harbinger of an sloweconomy

[papau]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=568&ncid=749&e=1&u=/nm/20041118/bs_nm/economy_philafed_dc

Philly Fed: Factories Slowed in November

By Victoria Thieberger

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Factory activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region slowed in November, but held in positive territory as the outlook for the future bounced back from depressed levels, a survey showed on Thursday.

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve (news - web sites) said its business activity index fell to 20.7 in November from 28.5 in October, below economists' forecasts for an easing to 23.5.

The Philadelphia Fed's index has shown expansion, or a reading above zero, for 18 months, but the pace of manufacturing growth had slowed recently as exports tapered off and consumer spending on long-lasting durable goods eased. <snip>

Economists said the softer growth in the report was not a harbinger of an economy-wide slowdown.

[zbdent]

1. Could it be because the hurricanes had finally stopped pounding

Florida and the East Coast, and people stopped having to buy battery-powered equipment and generators and plywood?