April Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Composite Index: -8 vs. -5 consensus and -7 prior. Production Index: -13 vs -9 prior. “Regional factory conditions declined again in April, marking its 19th consecutive month of flat or falling activity,” said Chad Wilkerson, senior vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. “Firms decreased capital expenditures slightly from this time last year as they continue to face margin compression.”