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

US DATA: MNI Chicago Business Barometer Rises to 65.5 in July 

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The MNI Chicago Business Barometer rose to a six-month high of 65.5 in June, up

1.4 points from June's 64.1. Businesses' operations rose at a swifter pace in

July, with activity up for a fourth consecutive month. All but one of the

Barometer components strengthened on the month, with only Supplier Deliveries

losing ground, leaving the Barometer up 10.1% on the year. Like the headline

index, both New Orders and Production recorded six-month highs in July,

traditionally a busy month for firms coinciding with the summer holiday season.

Alongside a further pickup in demand growth, firms' level of unfinished orders

continued to grow. The Order Backlogs indicator capped a third straight rise by

hitting a nine-month high, while price pressures continued to aggravate firms'

operations and intensified markedly in July. The Prices Paid indicator rose to

its highest level since September 2008. The survey period ran from July 2 to

July 19.