MNI Chicago Business Barometer Rises to.....>

US DATA: MNI Chicago Business Barometer Rises to 57.6 in April|

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The MNI Chicago Business Barometer rose 0.2 points to 57.6 in April, up from

57.4 in March, snapping a three-month downward trend. Business activity

continued to rise at a solid pace in April, with growth in firms' operations up

for the first time this year, albeit marginally. Three of the five Barometer

components receded on the month, with only Production and Supplier Deliveries

finding room to grow. While output levels rose in April, driving the rise in the

Barometer, order book growth softened. The Production indicator ended a run of

three consecutive falls while New Orders indicator extended the downward

momentum shown since the turn of the year. Deliveries lengthened further in

April while Prices Paid soared to a near-seven-year high. The survey period ran

from April 1 to April 19.