MNI Chicago Business Barometer Rises in.....>

US DATA: MNI Chicago Business Barometer Rises in May to 54.2

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The MNI Chicago Business Barometer increased by 1.6 points to 54.2 in May from

52.6 in April.  Despite the pick-up in sentiment, the survey points to softness

in business activity, as indicated by the three-month average slipping to a

two-year low. Furthermore, it is evident that business confidence in Q2 is going

to be significantly weaker than Q1, which already was at sluggish levels. The

rise in business confidence was led by Production and New Orders. New Orders

increased for the first time in three months, but the increase was not large

enough to offset last month's fall. Production picked-up to match its

three-month average but was significantly below its 12-month average. Prices at

the factory gate picked up a little following last month's double-digit decline

amid a rise in the price of oil. The survey period ran from May 1 to 21.