(Bloomberg) -- A measure of New York state manufacturing activity expanded in November for the first time in four months, though a gauge of future conditions sank to one of the weakest readings on record.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s general business conditions index climbed 13.6 points to 4.5 in November, data showed Tuesday. A reading above zero indicates expansion. The figure exceeded all projections in a Bloomberg survey of economists that had a median estimate of minus 6.

The report included increases in shipments, employment and inventories. New and unfilled orders declined. Measures of prices paid and received both firmed.

However, the New York Fed’s measure of activity in the next six months dropped about 4 points to minus 6.1, the second-worst reading since 2001. The outlook gauges for orders and shipments slid to the lowest levels in data back to 2001.

Survey responses were collected Nov. 2-9. The report is the first of several regional Fed bank factory indexes set for release in the coming weeks. 

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