June 30, 2006 10:05 AM, EDT

Chicago Manufacturing Index Falls in June

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he National Assocation of Purchasing Management-Chicago's manufacturing index slowed to 56.5 in June from 61.5 last month, the group said Friday.

Readings above 50 signal expansion. A measure of prices paid for raw materials jumped to the highest level in 18 years, NAPM-Chicago said.

Economists had forecast a June rating of 59, Bloomberg reported.

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