Kansas Fed Contracts Also, But PMI Beats Expectations

from Zero Hedge:
We are now four-for-four (five-for-five if we include the drastic downward revisions in the Chicago PMI) for regional Fed business outlooks taking a serious (and consistent) turn for the worse. Kansas Fed manufacturing just missed expectations turning negative once again. Amid the sub-indices (which were broadly weak) was a plunge in employment as it fell to August 2009 levels. This weakness in Kansas follows Richmond's quadruple dip, Empire State's weakness, and Philly's major miss and in aggregate suggests a very weak ISM to come.

Meanwhile, crude oil is up more than $1 today, and is now firmly above the $96 handle. Gee, the elections must be over, because the price of crude oil is rising during the winter months again!
But PMI was good this morning, so the data is somewhat mixed today!