Chicago Business Barometer™ - Decreases to 45.3 in July
The Chicago Business Barometer™, produced with MNI slipped 2.1 points to 45.3 in July, after rising in June for the first time since November 2023.
FOUR OF FIVE SUBCOMPONENTS FELL, WITH PRODUCTION LEADING THE FALL
Production fell 8.2 points, making it the lowest since May 2024. Respondents have become increasingly polarized.
New Orders declined 2.5 points, after jumping up 16.9 points in June.
Order Backlogs lessened by 2.8 points, also after it recorded a large rise of 14.2 points in June.
Employment slowed by 2.2 points. This was due to the proportion of respondents reporting lower levels of employment increasing.
PRICES PAID LOWEST SINCE JUN 2023 WHILST SUPPLIER DELIVERIES HIGHEST SINCE NOVEMBER 2023
Meanwhile, Prices Paid curtailed a further 0.7 points, taking it to the lowest level since June 2023.
Supplier Deliveries rose for the third consecutive month by 5.1 points to the highest since November 2023.
Finally, Inventories fell 4.0 points, after reaching the highest levels seen since November 2023 last month.