MNI Chicago Business Barometer Lower........>

US DATA: MNI Chicago Business Barometer Lower Again In April at 52.6 

-MNI Chicago: Production Falls To Lowest Level Since May 2016

-MNI Chicago: Order Backlogs Bounce After Dip Below 50 In March

-MNI Chicago: Prices Paid At More Than Three-Year Low

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The MNI Chicago Business Barometer fell 6.1 points to 52.6 in Apr from 58.7 in

Mar, hitting the lowest level since Jan 2017. Q1 weakness continued into Q2,

with the fall led by four of the five Barometer components' -- only Order

Backlogs increased. Order Backlogs picked-up, moving above the 50-neutral level

after a brief dip below in Mar. There were reports of increased lead times at

both domestic and offshore points, putting pressure on backlogs. New Orders

eased for the second consecutive month, dipping below both three- and 12-month

averages. Amid weaker recent orders, Production pulled back from Mar, to a level

not seen since May 2016. Factory gate prices saw the biggest monthly fall since

Dec 2008, taking the indicator to the lowest level since Mar 2016. There was

anecdotal evidence of steel leading prices lower.