Chicago Manufacturing Index Improves

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region showed expansion in February, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Friday.

ISM-Chicago’s monthly index climbed to a reading of 62.6, from 61.5 in January. Figures over 50 signal expansion, while below 50 indicate contraction.

The reading exceeded economists’ estimates of a drop to 59.1, Bloomberg reported.

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