Chicago Manufacturing Index Improves

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago improved in August, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Monday.

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.