factory activity in the philadelphia area continued to grow in april albeit at a softer pace than in march according to a survey from the federal reserve bank of philadelphia released thursday the index for current general activity of the business outlook survey decreased to 176 in april from 274 in march missing economists expectations of 219 in a poll carried out by the wall street journal the philadelphia fed survey polls manufacturing firms in the third federal reserve districtwhich covers eastern pennsylvania southern new jersey and delawareevery month about the direction of change in business activity aprils data signal that factory activity continued to expand as the index stood above zero the main indicators of the survey declined from last months readings but remained positive the philly fed said around 34 of firms reported increases in overall activity double than the 17 which reported decreases compared with the previous month demand weakened over the month according to the survey the new orders index fell to 178 from 258 and the shipments index declined to 191 from 302 the employment index reached a new alltime high of 414 in april suggesting a stronger pace of job creation among the respondents of the survey supplychain problems showed signs of improving slightly the delivery times index fell to 179 from 397 and the unfilled orders index decreased to 57 from 210 however price increases remained widespread and even intensified over the month the prices paid index rose further to 846 its highest reading since june 1979 and the prices received index increased slightly to 550 firms in the philadelphia area were less optimistic about their shortterm prospects the index for future general activity decreased sharply to 82 its lowest reading since december 2008 the indicator gauging future new orders also fell notably the philly fed said