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September 30, 2005 11:00 AM, EDT

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anufacturing growth in the Chicago jumped in September following its first contraction in more than two years, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said Friday.

APM’s business barometer rose to 60.5 from 49.2 in August, the group said. That exceeded economists’ forecasts of a rise to 52, Bloomberg reported.

The rebound suggests that despite rising energy prices and fallout from two big hurricanes, there has not been a widespread slowdown, Bloomberg said.

Readings above 50 signal expansion. Before the August contraction, July’s level had been the 27th consecutive month of continued growth in the region.

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

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