Feb. Empire State index jumps to 19.5

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)
The Empire State manufacturing index rose to 19.5 in February, its highest level since June 2010, the New York Federal Reserve Bank said Wednesday
This is the fourth straight large increase after the index had sunk below zero from June through October The size of the gain in February surprised analysts
Economists polled by MarketWatch expected the index to rise to 15.0 in February from 13.5 in January
Underlying conditions were mixed
The new orders index fell to 9.7 in February from 13.7 in January
Shipments only edged slightly higher
The employment indexes were also mixed
The index for the number of employees inched down to 11.8 in February from 12.1 in January while the average workweek rose to 7.1 from 6.6 in the prior month
 A reading of expected conditions in six-months retreated slightly after hitting its highest level in a year in January