Chicago Manufacturing Index Improves

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region improved this month, showing continued expansion, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Tuesday.

ISM-Chicago’s monthly index rose to a reading of 62.5, from 60.6 in October. Figures greater than 50 signal expansion.

The uptick was better than economists’ median estimate of a decline to 59.9, Bloomberg reported.

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