Chicago Factory Index Improves

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago improved in June but continued to show contraction, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Tuesday.

ISM-Chicago’s monthly index improved to a reading of 39.9, from 34.9 in May, the group said.

Figures lower than 50 signal contraction, while above that signal growth.

The reading slightly exceeded economists’ forecasts of a 42 reading, Bloomberg reported.

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