Chicago Manufacturing Index Declines

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago area declined in October, the Institute for Supply Management-Chicago said Monday.

The group’s business barometer slipped to a reading of 58.4 this month, from 60.4 in September. Readings over 50 signal expansion.

Economists had forecast the gauge would drop to 59, Bloomberg reported.

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