MNI 5 THINGS: Chicago Biz Barometer Shrugs Off Weak January

     LONDON (MNI) - The following are the key points from the February MNI

Chicago Business Barometer:

     --The MNI Chicago Business Barometer rose to its highest reading in just

over a year. The rise of 8 points to 64.7 is also up from the reading in

December 2018 of 63.8. This highlights the likelihood of January being a

temporary blip in an otherwise healthy barometer.

     --Further evidence that a beleaguered January was representing temporary

factors was the New Orders indicator jumping 15.2 points from the 2-year low in

January. This put the New Orders indicator at a three-month high.

     --The Prices Paid indicator posted its first increase in seven months. This

eased some of the downward pressure on prices seen over the second half of 2018,

although prices of some materials remained soft.

     --February asked two special questions of firms. The first question asked

firms how another interest rate hike would impact their business. 48.9% of firms

believed a rate hike would adversely impact their business, while 46.7% didn't

expect any impact, leaving only a minority of firms expecting to benefit from a

rate hike.

     --Firms were also asked if the lack of agreement in ongoing trade impacted

their business strategies. A majority of firms, at 42.6%, said this had

negatively impacted them, while a quarter said they were immune.

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; +44 203 865 3828; email: jai.lakhani@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2223; email: david.robinson@marketnews.com

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