Free Trial

Chicago Business Barometer™ - Increases to 48.7

US DATA

The Chicago Business Barometer™, produced with MNI, improved by 5.9 points to 48.7 in August. This represents the third consecutive monthly increase and the highest level since August 2022. With the exception of Order Backlogs, all of the subcomponents rose.

  • New Orders, Production and Employment all showed significant gains, albeit with the Employment component remaining in contractionary territory.
  • New Orders increased by +12.6 points. This was the first time the subcomponent has been above 50 since May 2022.
  • Production jumped by +12.0 points to 57.1, also the highest reporting since May 2022.
  • Employment rose by +8.6 points to 48.3. Despite the biggest single-month increase since 2017, Employment is at similar levels to May 2023, and remains in contractive territory.
  • Order Backlogs was down -6.9 points to the lowest level since May 2020.
  • Supplier Deliveries advanced by +0.5 points.
  • Prices Paid increased substantially by +11.9 points to 74.0. This was the highest level since October 2022.
  • Inventories grew by +9.8 points. Despite remaining in contractionary territory, this was the first time the component rose since March 2023.

To read the full story

Close

Why MNI

MNI is the leading provider

of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.

Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.