Chicago Manufacturing Index Slips

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region fell in March but showed continued expansion, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Thursday.

ISM-Chicago’s monthly index slipped to a reading of 70.6, from 71.2 in February which had been the highest reading in almost 23 years. Figures greater than 50 signal expansion.

March marked the index’s 18th straight month of expansion, ISM-Chicago said.

The reading was higher than economists’ forecasts of a 69.9 reading, Bloomberg reported.

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