02:23 PM EST, 02/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- New York manufacturing activity rebounded more than expected into growth territory this month as orders jumped, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Tuesday.

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey's general business conditions index climbed to 5.7 in February from minus 12.6 in January. The consensus was for a month-to-month improvement to minus 2, according to a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

"Manufacturing activity edged higher in New York State in February," New York Fed Economic Research Adviser Richard Deitz said in a statement.

New orders jumped 20 points to 11.4, according to the Fed branch. The shipments measure advanced to 14.2 from minus 1.7 month to month.

The raw material cost index advanced roughly 11 points to 40.2, its highest level in nearly two years, while the selling prices measure increased more than 10 points to 19.6, according to the report. The employment component swung into negative territory.

Six months out, the index for general business conditions dropped to 22.2 in February from 36.7 in January, the New York Fed said. The future new orders index tumbled 16.4 points to 17.8, while the shipments gauge slipped to 22.7 from 28.8 month to month, the survey showed.

The outlook for employment growth edged down 2.6 points to 11.2. Firms indicated that they expect raw material prices to slightly accelerate and prices received growth to dip marginally over the next six months