September - Chicago Business Barometer™
The Chicago Business Barometer™ fell 0.9 points to 40.6 in September. The index now sits 0.2 points above the June reading, having now almost fully unwound July's 6.7 point rise. The index still has been below 50 for twenty-two consecutive months.
The decline was driven by another sharp drop in New Orders, alongside declines in Supplier Deliveries and Employment. These dynamics were partly offset by a rises in Production and Order Backlogs.
September special question asked: "Given the risen increases in U.S. borrowing costs, how have changing financial conditions affected your suppliers or clients? Majority 46% answered "No noticeable impact", and 18% answered "Reducing or exiting borrowing due to higher interest costs. See report for balance.
Released September 30, 2025.
Handle the Corporate Heat Like an Actual Firefighter
Manage a corporate crisis
While business leaders frequently describe their work as "fighting fires," they often allow confusion around roles, lack of planning and poor communication to exacerbate problems, writes Melissa Swift, the founder and CEO of Anthrome Insight. In contrast, firefighters manage dangerous situations with clear plans, defined roles, mastery of their tools and relentless communication. Swift argues that adopting these organized firefighting principles can help corporate teams bring order to their own chaos and respond to emergencies with greater effectiveness.
Full Story: MIT Sloan Management Review (10/09)
CFOs vs. CPOs: Why they clash and how to bridge the gap
Procurement leaders are tasked with driving resilience, sustainability, and innovation-but CFOs often see only tactical cost control. Bridging this perception gap starts with shared language, aligned KPIs, and financial storytelling that ties procurement directly to enterprise value.
Full Story: Supply Chain Management Review (09/17)
