Chicago Business Activity Improves as New Orders Climb — MNI
By Ed Frankl
Business activity in the Chicago area strengthened this month, helped by a rebound in demand for orders, a monthly survey showed Friday.
The Chicago Business Barometer, compiled by MNI Indicators, climbed to 43.8 in October from 40.6 September, marking the first increase in three months. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had expected the barometer to rise to 42.0.
While the index is now above the average for 2025, it has remained for almost two years below the 50-mark dividing contraction from expansion in the area's business activity
October's increase was mainly driven by the first rise in new orders since July, alongside improvements in production and order backlogs, the report said. The index for inventories was at its highest since May.
However, the proportion of respondents reporting higher employment reached its lowest since February, the survey said, adding to broader concerns about the labor market.
Write to Ed Frankl at edward.frankl@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 31, 2025 10:31 ET (14:31 GMT)
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