FX.co ★ Texas Manufacturing Slips Further in December

In December 2025, the Dallas Fed reported a decline in its general business activity index for Texas manufacturing, which decreased by 0.5 points to -10.9, marking its lowest position since June. Simultaneously, the outlook index dropped further into negative territory at -11.9, reflecting worsening perceptions of the broader business environment. There was a notable weakening in manufacturing activity across the board. The production index experienced a decline of 24 points to -3.2, indicating a modest reduction in output. New orders decreased by 11 points to -6.4, and capacity utilization fell significantly by 24 points to -4.5. Additionally, the shipments index dropped to -10.6, reaching its lowest point in 17 months. Labor market indicators suggested a mostly unchanged workforce size, with a trend towards shorter workweeks. The employment index slightly decreased to -1.1, with 12% of firms reporting increased hiring and 13% reporting layoffs. The hours worked index saw a sharp decline of 17 points to -7.5. Price pressures remained relatively stable, while wage growth experienced a slight increase.