Philly Fed index edges higher in March

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)
Manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region edged higher in March to its highest reading since last April, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve reported Thursday
The bank's business condition index rose to 12.5 in March from 10.2 in February
This is the fourth straight monthly gain
The increase was very close to the consensus of economists polled by MarketWatch
The headline business condition index is a separate question and not a buildup of components
So economists pay close attention to the details of the report, which were mixed in the month.
The index for new orders fell to 3.3 in March from 11.7 in February
The index for number of employees increased to 6.8 in March from 1.1 in the prior month
The prices paid index fell to 18.7 from 38.7 in February