Here comes the Dallas Fed ...
Economists estimate that the index of activity worsened to -3.9 in August from -1.3 in July, according to Bloomberg. It has not turned positive since December 2014, before a slowdown choked the manufacturing sector.
Last month's print was a notable improvement from the June index of -18.3, and better than most economists had expected.
The employment index improved from a seven-year low, and the index of future general business activity rose for a second straight month.
Some business leaders told the Dallas Fed that they struggled to find qualified workers, including entry-level candidates that can do basic math.