Chicago Manufacturing Index Improves

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region improved in January, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Monday.

ISM-Chicago’s monthly index rose to a reading of 68.8, from 66.8 in December, ISM said. Figures greater than 50 signal expansion.

The reading was better than economists’ median estimate of a decline to 64.5, Bloomberg reported.

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