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    February 27, 2026

    Chicago Business Barometer keeps climbing in February

    Written by Ethan Bernard

    The Chicago Business Barometer continued to rise in February, marking its second month in expansion territory, according to Market News International (MNI) and the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

    The Barometer surveys purchasing and supply management professionals in the Chicago area each month to gauge company-level business conditions. This is the second consecutive month of expansion for the index after 25 straight months in contraction.

    The February reading increased 3.7 points to 57.7, according to MNI. The Barometer is a diffusion index. Readings above 50 indicate improving business conditions. Those below 50 indicate contraction.

    MNI said the rise was driven by increases in Production, Employment, New Orders, and Supplier Deliveries. A decline in Order Backlogs provided some offset.

    “Production strengthened 9.0 points to the highest level since November 2023, and marking two months above 50,” MNI said in a statement.

    The survey ran from Feb. 1 – 11.

    Ethan Bernard

    Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

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