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    October 30, 2026

    Chicago Business Barometer slips but remains in expansion

    Written by Laura Miller

    The Chicago Business Barometer slipped in October but remained in expansion for a second month.

    The Barometer reading from ISM Chicago and MNI Indicators came in at 55.3 in October, down 3.5 points from September but up 8.2 points from August’s contraction.

    Laura Miller

    Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. She has held various editorial positions with steel industry publications, associations, and mills since 2007. She joined the SMU team in 2022. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

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