The Chicago Business Barometer, produced with MNI, jumped to 73.4 in July, both a two-month high and the second highest pandemic-era reading. Demand is strong but firms remain concerned about supply chain disruptions and rising prices. Among the main five indicators, Production saw the largest increase, followed by New Orders, while Supplier Deliveries remained unchanged. Production saw the biggest gain in July, up 8.8 points, as demand remained high and some firms benefited from supply chain issues. The index now stands at a two-month high. New Orders increased 5.4 points, signalling strong demand. Order Backlogs ... (full story)