Chicago Manufacturing Index Gains in May, Beating Expectations

May 31, 2006 10:30 AM, EDT

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

he growth rate of Chicago-area manufacturing activity rose in May, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said Wednesday.

APM’s Chicago-area business gauge rose to 61.5 from 57.2 in April, the group said. Readings above 50 signal expansion.

The May level surprised economists, who had forecast a decline to 56, Bloomberg reported.

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

��

��ϳԹ��