MNI Chicago Business Barometer Slips to.....>

US DATA: MNI Chicago Business Barometer Slips to 63.6 in August 

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The MNI Chicago Business Barometer slipped to a three-month low of 63.6 in

August, down 1.9 points from July's 65.5. Firms' operations continued to grow at

a healthy pace in August, despite decelerating for the first time in five

months. Softening across Supplier Deliveries, Order Backlogs and Employment

offset gains in Production and New Orders, driving the decline in the Barometer.

However, it still sits 6.9% higher on the year and continues to signal robust

business conditions. August saw both demand and output inch higher, though

broadly unchanged from the already-elevated July levels. For firms not

encountering a significant rise in orders, it offered the chance to catch up on

existing, unfinished orders. The Order Backlogs indicator snapped a three-month

winning run in August, receding from July's nine-month high. Firms continued to

expand their workforce in August, despite the Employment indicator easing from

July's four-month high while productive capacities continued to be restrained by

elevated input prices. The survey period ran from August 1 to August 21.