Chicago Business Barometer™ & Research

Chicago Business Barometer^™ & Research

Monthly Survey - Chicago Business Barometer^™

The ISM Chicago Business Survey, is a regional view of the national economy; is a time-tested, market-moving report. The Chicago Report^™ is available to subscribers on the last working day each month. The Chicago Business Barometer^™ summarizes current Business Activity. The Barometer is considered to be a leading indicator of the U.S.A. economy.

For more than seven decades, the Chicago Business Barometer^™ has been providing leading insight on the U.S. economy. The Chicago Business Barometer^™ is delivered to subscribers via the MNI Chicago Report^™, a monthly report published by MNI Indicators that presents valuable information on the U.S. economic activity and a fresh look at current U.S. business conditions. The report consists of seven Business Activity indicators and three Buying Policy indicators that represent activity and preformance levels compared to the prior month.

Purchasing and Supply Management professionals in the Chicago area, primarily members of ISM Chicago, are polled to assess business conditions for their respective companies every month.

For more information about the Chicago Business Barometer^™ and MNI Indicators products, please contact martindanielb@yahoo.com.

Periodically, ISM Chicago may invite our members and community to participate in additional research.

November - Chicago Business Barometer^™

The Chicago Business Barometer™ fell 7.5 points to 36.3 in November. The index is below 40 for the first time since January, and has remained below 50 for twenty-four consecutive months.

The decrease was driven by declines in Order Backlogs, New Orders, Production and Employment. An increase in Supplier Deliveries provided a small offset.

In November, the Chicago Report™ also asked firms “How do your 2025 holiday and/or winter season prices compare to 2024?” See report for full details.

Released November 26, 2025.

Read the Press Release

3 Leadership Lessons From Surfing

Standing on a moving board in the ocean isn’t easy, and neither is leading other humans.

Surfers can't control the ocean, but can learn to read and ride its waves, which mirrors a skill leaders must learn about their business as well, writes Steven Gonzalez, the president & CEO of HealthView Home Health and Hospice & Palliative Care, who notes that waiting for perfect conditions leads to missed opportunities, especially in fast-moving areas like AI. "The goal is not to surf faster, but to stay on the wave longer, guiding others with clarity and purpose," Gonzalez writes.

Full Story: INC. (10/28)

Friend or Foe? Artificial intelligence (AI) and negotiation

A New Kind of Negotiation Partner: AI at the Table

For years, procurement professionals have focused on one core challenge: how to negotiate deals that create more value for both sides. Now, that landscape is shifting fast — thanks to artificial intelligence.

Recent research explored one of the first real-world tests of how generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, influence negotiation strategies and results. The findings were eye-opening — not only in the outcomes achieved, but also in how negotiators approached discussions, shared information, and built value.

The studies, detailed in Friend or Foe? Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Negotiation, show that AI isn’t just another tool — it’s a new type of negotiation partner that’s reshaping how buyers and suppliers engage.

For procurement leaders, the takeaway is clear: as AI enters the negotiation process, understanding how to leverage it effectively — or negotiate against it — will be a critical skill in the next evolution of strategic sourcing and supplier management.

Full Story: AALBORG University, Published in International Journal of Commerce and Contracting (10/2025)

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