Chicago Manufacturing Index Slips in April

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region slipped in April from March, but showed continued expansion, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Friday.

ISM-Chicago’s monthly index fell to a reading of 67.6, from 70.6 in March. Figures greater than 50 signal expansion.

February’s 71.2 reading had been the highest in almost 23 years. April marked the index’s 19th straight month of expansion, ISM-Chicago said.

The reading was below than economists’ forecasts of a 68.2 reading, Bloomberg reported.

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