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Chicago Purchasing Managers Index still contractionary 49.9
The Chicago Purchasing Managers reported October's Chicago Business Barometer idled, up just 0.2 to a still contractionary 49.9. Business Activity measures reflected weakness in five of seven indexes, most notably as the rate of expansion in Production and Employment slowed while New Orders stalled near neutral and Order Backlogs remained in contraction.
BUSINESS ACTIVITY:
EMPLOYMENT: 33 month low;
INVENTORIES: slipped into contraction;
PRICES PAID: inflation slowed a bit;
BUYING POLICY:
CAPITAL EQUIPMENT: 26 month low;
PRODUCTION MATERIAL and MRO SUPPLIES: lead times remain above long term averages.
Posted: October 31, 2012 Wednesday 10:00 AM