MNI DATA IMPACT: Chicago Biz Barometer Slides In April

     LONDON (MNI) - The following are the key points from the April MNI Chicago

Business Barometer:

     - The MNI Chicago Business Barometer fell again in April, falling 6.1

points to 52.6, extending the slide from March and hitting a 27-month low.

Although the barometer has comfortably remained above the 50- neutral level for

more than two years now, survey evidence points to a modest slowdown since last

year.

     - Four of the five Barometer components' fell in April, with only Order

Backlogs increasing, moving back above the 50-neutral level after a brief dip

into contraction territory in March. There were reports of increased lead times

at both domestic and offshore points, putting pressure on backlogs.

     - New Orders eased for the second consecutive month, dipping below both

three- and 12-month averages. Amid weaker orders seen recently, Production

pulled back significantly from March, to a level not seen since May 2016.

Companies continued to run down their inventories, but less so than last month.

The indicator remained just a touch below the 50-mark for the third time in the

last nine months.

     - The pullback in demand and production was matched by reduced need for

labor and the Employment Indicator softened to the lowest level since October

2017, now hovering below both the three- and 12-month averages.

     - Factory gate prices saw the biggest monthly fall since December 2008,

taking the indicator to the lowest level since March 2016. There was anecdotal

evidence of steel leading prices lower.

     - The survey period ran from April 1 to 16.

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2224; email: shaily.mittal@mni-indicators.com

--MNI London Bureau; +44 0203 865 3814; email: irene.prihoda@marketnews.com

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