Economy
October 1, 2020
Chicago Business Activity Expands in September
Written by Sandy Williams
Business activity in the Chicago area surged in September, expanding for the third month in a row. The MNI Chicago Business Barometer soared 11.2 points to 62.4, its highest level since December 2018. Business sentiment jumped sharply to 55.2, its best performance since Q1 2019.
Production jumped 16 points, nearing a two-year high, while demand picked up 22 points for the highest new orders reading since November 2018. Order backlogs rose 14.4 percent and supplier deliveries gained 2.8 points. Inventories were at a four-month high, but still mired below the 50-mark.
