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Manufacturing growth in New York state improved this month, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Friday.

The regional Fed’s “Empire State Index,” generally the first economic indicator in a given month, rose to a 2.8 reading from negative 4.9 in July.

Readings above zero indicate expansion, while below that shows contraction. The index averaged 17.2 last year.

Economists had forecast a reading of negative 4, Bloomberg said.

Manufacturing is one of trucking’s largest and most important customers.