Chicago Business Barometer™ Advanced

2/26/2010

The Chicago Purchasing Managers reported the Chicago Business Barometer accelerated for the fifth consecutive month, a trend not seen since 2002. The three-month moving average of each index was positive, indicating breadth of the advance.

BUSINESS ACTIVITY:

• PRICES PAID accelerated;
• ORDER BACKLOGS marked a third month of expansion;
INVENTORIES continued contraction, while SUPPLIER DELIVERIES slowed;
• EMPLOYMENT's rate of acceleration was tempered.

BUYING POLICY:

• All indicators' three-month moving average trended positively.