Research >> Economics
Chicago Purchasing Managers Index Skidded to 52.7
The Chicago Purchasing Managers reported the May Chicago Business Barometer decreased for a third consecutive month to its lowest level since September 2009. The short term trend of the Chicago Business Barometer, and all seven Business Activity indexes, declined in May. Among the Business Activity measures, only the Supplier Delivery index expanded faster while Order Backlogs and Inventories contracted. The Production index fell to neutral while, inexplicably, measures of Business Policy advanced.
BUSINESS ACTIVITY:
• PRODUCTION and NEW ORDERS lowest since September 2009;
• PRICES PAID lowest since September 2010;
• EMPLOYMENT rate of growth slowed
BUYING POLICY:
• PRODUCTION MATERIAL, M.R.O. SUPPLIES and CAPITAL EQUIPMENT lead times all lengthened.
Posted: May 31, 2012 Thursday 10:00 AM