Prior month -6Details:Composite manufacturing index fell to -10 in February from -6 in January. Estimate was -8Shipments dropped to -13 from -5New orders decreased to -9 from -6Employment edged down to -7 from -6Local business conditions index declined to -15 from -8Future local business conditions improved to 22 from 19Future shipments and new orders eased slightly but remained solidly positiveEmployment expectations rose to 6 from 2 last monthPrices paid and received growth rates slowed in February to 6.52 from 7.06 last monthPrices received also slowed to 4.25 from 4.58 last monthFirms expect further moderation in price growth over the next 12 months**The Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index serves as a monthly "pulse check" for the industrial sector across the Mid-Atlantic region, covering Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas, D.C., and most of West Virginia. It is a composite indicator derived from three key pillars: new orders, shipments, and employment levels. A reading above zero indicates expansion, while a reading below zero signals contraction. Because this district represents a diverse slice of American industry, the index is widely watched by economists and investors as a "canary in the coal mine" for the broader U.S. manufacturing economy, often providing early signals of shifting demand or supply chain trends before national data is released. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.