Chicago Manufacturing Index Improves

ISM-Chicago’s monthly index improved to a reading of 50, from 43.4 in July. It was the highest level since last September, the group said.

The figure was at the dividing line between growth and contraction, as figures lower than 50 signal contraction, while above that signal growth.

The reading exceeded economists’ forecasts of a 48 reading, Bloomberg reported.

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