Chicago Manufacturing Index Falls in August

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region grew in August at the slowest pace since November, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Tuesday.

ISM-Chicago’s monthly index dropped to a reading of 56.7, from 62.3 in July, the group said. Figures more than 50 signal expansion, while below that level indicates contraction.

The reading was lower than economists’ estimates of a 57 reading, Bloomberg reported.

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