The Chicago Business BarometerTM, produced with MNI, rose 3.1 points in November, hitting a two-month high 46.3. However, the index remains in contraction for the third month straight, resulting in a further fall of the 3-month average to 45.5. The New Orders and Order Backlogs indices saw the largest monthly improvements in November, while Supplier Deliveries revealed the largest fall. Production slipped to 42.3 in November after October’s uptick. However, demand improved significantly, indicated by New Orders which rose by 12.5 points to 49.4, just a touch below the 50-mark. There was, though, anecdotal evidence of ... (full story)