The Kansas City Fed’s Manufacturing Production Index rose to 20 in September 2026, the highest reading since April 2022, up from 17 in the prior month. Both durable and nondurable manufacturing activity increased, driven primarily by plastics and rubber products and furniture-related products. Increases in monthly indexes were broad-based, with shipments increasing further to 21 from 17, a multi-month high, as volume of new orders also rising to 24 from 16. Employment was flat over the month following a declibe to -2. Price pressures also intensified, particularly for prices paid for raw materials. From a year earlier, the manufacturing production eased slightly to 19 as shipments increased to 23 from 13 while volume of new orders fell to 22 from 23. Price pressures also increased further, while employment fell to -3 from 5. Over the next six months, activity remains in expansionary territory, although edging down to 9 from 20.