Why MNI
MNI is the leading provider
of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.
MNI: Chicago Business Barometer™ Holds Steady in August
The Chicago Business BarometerTM, produced with MNI, all but stood still in August. The indicator inched up 0.1 points to 52.2, following the June/July slide which saw the Chicago Report™ fall to the lowest level since August 2020.The only sub-indicators to fall were employment and supplier deliveries, while prices paid was unchanged from the previous month. Supplier deliveries eased to the lowest level since July 2020 with just over a quarter of firms seeing deliveries slow.
Source: MNI / ISM
PRICES PAID STALLS
Prices Paid held firm in August, all but unchanged at 81.8, with price pressures remaining acute.
Inventories saw the largest rebound this month, bouncing back 13.9 points, reversing the July plunge. The index remains 7.5 points below May’s near 50-year high.
Supplier Deliveries declined 5.0 points to 62.1. Stockpiling in the first quarter of the year likely exasperated delivery issues.
PRODUCTION AND NEW ORDERS SEE SIGNS OF RECOVERY
Production strengthened by 6.7 points to 54.9 in August, close to recovering July’s 7.0-point decline. Underpinned by more shipping days in August, orders saw robust production over the month.
New Orders followed a similar trajectory, improving by 4.4 points to 48.9. Fourth quarter outlooks appeared positive. Long-time lead businesses continued to struggle and cited cancellations.
Order Backlogs grew by 6.1 points to 54.5 in August.
Employment edged down 1.5 points to 54.6, implying little change in the tightness of the labor market.
The survey ran from August 1 to 15.
Why MNI
MNI is the leading provider
of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.