by Calculated Risk on 8/31/2012 09:51:00 AM

From Chicago ISM: Chicago Business Barometer Anemic

The Chicago Purchasing Managers reported the CHICAGO BUSINESS BAROMETER posted a small gain in August but remained steady for the last four months. Among the Business Activity measures, declines into contraction for both Order Backlogs and Supplier Deliveries offset minor gains in Production, New Orders, and Employment in August.

• EMPLOYMENT recovered more than half of last month's slowing; • PRICES PAID slight gain; • ORDER BACKLOGS lowest since September 2009; • SUPPLIER DELIVERIES lowest since July 2009.

The PMI decreased to 53.0 from 53.7. Expectations were for a decrease to 53.0.

The employment index increased to 57.1 from 53.3, and new orders increased to 54.8 from 52.9.