Chicago Manufacturing Index Falls

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago area shrank in September, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Tuesday.

ISM-Chicago’s monthly index dropped to a reading of 46.1, from 50 in August.

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

The reading fell short of economists’ predictions that it would rise to 52, Bloomberg reported.

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