MNI CHICAGO BUSINESS BAROMETER 43.2 OCT.....>

US DATA: MNI CHICAGO BUSINESS BAROMETER 43.2 OCT VS 47.1 SEP

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-The Chicago Business Barometer fell 3.9 points to 43.2 in October, the lowest

level since December 2015.

-The index slipped further into contraction with a second straight sub-50

reading. 

-The survey points to further weakness in business activity, with the

three-month average falling further to 46.9.

-Only two of the major components saw a monthly decline, although both New

Orders and Order Backlogs fell sharply in October.

-While demand weakened significantly in October -- New Orders declined to 37.0,

its lowest since March 2009 -- Production bounced up to 46.8, although the

indicator has been in contraction since July.

-Order Backlogs fell 13.6 points to 33.1, below the 50-mark for a second

successive, at a near 4-year low.