The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index was released today by Kingsbury International.

The ‘Chicago Business Barometer’ increased to 60.2, up .7 points from the October reading of 59.5 but down 2.6 points from the 62.8 reading in September.

Note: Figures above 50 in the index indicate growth. Figures lower than 50 indicate contraction.

Here is a press release issued by the Institute for Supply Management Chicago.

“The Chicago Purchasing Managers reported the CHICAGO BUSINESS BAROMETER strengthened to its highest level since April, expanding for the fourteenth month.

BUSINESS ACTIVITY:

• PRODUCTION reached its highest level since February 2005; • NEW ORDERS improved to a level not seen since 2007; • PRICES PAID neared April’s high for the year; • EMPLOYMENT tallied a sixth month of growth.

BUYING POLICY:

• PRODUCTION MATERIEL lead time slowed to the second-longest since January 1980.”