Economy
January 1, 2018
Chicago Business Barometer Rises to 6.5-Year High
Written by Sandy Williams
The MNI Chicago Business Barometer reached a six-and-a-half year high in December. The Barometer rose to 67.6 from 63.9 in November. The indicator also had its best quarterly performance since Q1 2011, rising to 65.9 in the fourth quarter from 61.0 in the third.
Production hit a 34-year high in December, while new orders were at a three-and-a-half year high. Order backlogs increased, but employment and supplier deliveries fell last month. Employment levels, however, remained in expansion territory, said MNI Indicators. On a 12-month average, 2017 was the best year for employment since 2014.
