Paul Wiseman reports in The Daily Freeman that manufacturing may be slowing in New York state, though factory hiring still seemed strong. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Empire State Manufacturing Survey fell to 5.2 in April from 16.4 in March. The survey had reached a two-year high of 18.7 in February. Despite the drop, the survey found that New York manufacturers are currently optimistic about business conditions. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.