Chicago PMI Jumps to 17-Month High in November

The latest Chicago Purchasing Manager's Index (Chicago Business Barometer) jumped to 55.8 in November from 44.0 in October, marking the highest level in the past 17 months. The latest reading is better than the 45.4 forecast and pushes the index into expansion territory for the first time in 15 months.

Background on Chicago PMI

The Chicago PMI assess the business conditions and the economic health of the manufacturing sector in the Chicago region. A value above 50.0 indicate expanding manufacturing activity, while a value below 50.0 indicate contracting manufacturing activity.