Chicago Manufacturing Activity Rises in March

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anufacturing in the Chicago area increased in March, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said Thursday.

The Chicago area is a center of U.S. manufacturing, which is one of trucking’s largest and most important customers.

NAPM’s business barometer rose to 69.2 from 62.7 in February, the group said. Economists had forecast the Chicago index to fall to 60.5, Bloomberg reported.

Readings above 50 signal expansion and the March level was the 23rd consecutive month of continued growth in the region.