The Chicago Business BarometerTM, produced with MNI, fell 0.9 points to 40.6 in September. The index now sits 0.2 points above the June reading, having now almost fully unwound July’s 6.7 point rise. The index has now been below 50 for twenty-two consecutive months. • The decline was driven by another sharp drop in New Orders, alongside declines in Supplier Deliveries and Employment. These dynamics were partly offset by rises in Production and Order Backlogs. • New Orders dropped 7.0 points, leaving the index just above the year-to-date low seen in May. • Supplier Deliveries realigned 6.4 points to the lowest level ... (full story)